Road to the Constitution: From Articles of Confederation to a New Government

Challenges Under the Articles of Confederation

• Initial Self-Governance: The United States began governing itself in 1783, even before the Treaty of Paris solidified independence.

• Weak Federal Government: The Articles of Confederation established a federal government with very limited power.

  • Unicameral Congress: There was a single-house Congress where delegates from each state voted as a unit (e.g., all Delaware delegates cast one vote, all Virginia delegates cast one vote).

  • High Bar for Legislation: Nine out of thirteen votes were required to pass any legislation, making it very difficult to achieve consensus and act effectively.

  • No Executive or Judicial Branch: The government lacked an executive branch to enforce laws and a judicial branch to interpret them.

  • State Power: States retained considerable power, often acting independently and in self-interest.

• International Disrespect: Other nations (British, French, Spanish) did not respect the new American nation, viewing it as unstable and unproven.

  • Violation of Treaties: England, in particular, did not adhere to the Treaty of Paris stipulations, continuing to build and occupy forts in the American West, exploiting the western economy. This continued until the U.S. was strong enough to physically remove them.

  • Economic Struggles: The Confederation Congress lacked the power to levy national taxes, hindering its ability to raise money. International trade was scarce as other nations were reluctant to trade with an unestablished nation. When trade opportunities did arise, American ships were often victims of