Notes on the Articles of Confederation

Introduction to the Articles of Confederation

  • The Articles of Confederation were the first governing document of the United States.
  • Ratified in 1781, they followed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
  • The Articles were not universally accepted; they were influenced by existing state constitutions, which emphasized legislative power.

Structure and Power Distribution

  • Legislative Branch: The Articles focused power in the legislative branch, where representatives made laws on behalf of the people.
  • Avoidance of Monarchy: The framers sought to avoid strong executive power due to recent experiences with monarchy, leading to no presidential position or national supreme court.
  • Voting System: Every state in the legislature had one vote, and major changes needed agreement from 9 out of 13 states (a super-majority).
  • The rigidity of the Articles made it difficult to adapt to changing needs of the nation.

Major Issues Faced Under the Articles

  • Westward Migration: Settlement encroached upon Native American lands, which caused conflict.
  • Northwest Ordinance of 1787: A significant piece of legislation passed under the Articles, which:
    • Promoted public education.
    • Abolished slavery in the Northwest Territory.
    • Provided a process for territories to gain statehood, establishing a framework for orderly expansion.

Economic Challenges and Shays’s Rebellion

  • By the mid-1780s, the U.S. faced severe economic difficulties affecting farmers, who struggled with debt due to inflation and taxes.
  • Shays’s Rebellion:
    • Led by Daniel Shays, a group of frustrated farmers organized to protest against the state government's inaction regarding their financial woes.
    • They sought to arm themselves against oppression but were quelled by the state militia.
  • This rebellion highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles, such as the lack of a federal standing army and executive governance.
  • Massachusetts' request for federal support went unanswered, exposing vulnerabilities in the Articles of Confederation.

Conclusion

  • Shays’s Rebellion served as a catalyst for discussions among leaders about the need for a new Constitution to replace the Articles, leading to future developments in American governance.