The Articles of Confederation: A Prelude to the Constitution

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What were the Articles of Confederation?

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The first constitution of the United States, adopted in 1777 during the American Revolution, establishing a weak central government with limited powers.

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What were the main limitations of the Articles of Confederation?

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The central government lacked the ability to tax, regulate commerce effectively, enforce laws, and did not have separate executive or judicial branches.

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Why did the Articles of Confederation lead to economic instability?

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The central government could not regulate trade, leading to competition between states and economic chaos, and there was no uniform currency system.

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What was the impact of the lack of central leadership under the Articles?

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There was no independent judiciary or chief executive to handle foreign affairs, making it difficult to respond to internal and external threats.

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How did legislative inefficiencies manifest under the Articles of Confederation?

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Nine of the thirteen states had to approve legislation, making it difficult to pass laws.

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What event illustrated the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

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Shays' Rebellion, where Massachusetts farmers protested increased tax collection efforts.

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When were the Articles of Confederation proposed and ratified?

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Proposed at the Second Continental Congress in 1777 and fully ratified in 1781.

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Why did the Founding Fathers choose a confederacy under the Articles?

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To place sovereign power in the hands of the states, as American colonists were wary of strong national governments after dealing with the British Crown.

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What ultimately led to the adoption of the US Constitution?

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The ineffectiveness of the Articles of Confederation at governing the growing American states due to economic disorganization, lack of central leadership, and legislative inefficiencies.

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How did the Articles of Confederation address military needs?

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The Articles allowed states to maintain militias, but the central government lacked the power to raise a national army, relying on states for defense.