Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation







Richard N. Hirneisen III









History 101
Professor Morton, Chris
April 23, 2012
Hirneisen 1
        The Articles of Confederation were considered one of the earliest attempts to govern the United States. While this constitution was a contribution to the techniques of a government and it provided a step toward a unity of the states, it is said that the Articles of Confederation proved to be inadequate. Congress was dependent on the states to provide funds and the implementation of its decrees; it turned into a legislative-executive body always attempting to reconcile the policies of the states. This type of government resulted in the congress not being able to extend the jurisdiction to certain individuals; it also resulted in America not having any sort of respect aboard. The United States could not unify any foreign or domestic policies or enforce any kind of treaty obligations with a foreign country. “Because of its inherent weaknesses, the government commanded little respect, and its prestige was further diminished by its inability to cope with internal uprisings such as Shay’s Rebellion”
        It came apparent that this government and the acts that they could provide to the states under the Articles of Confederation were in the words of George Washington, “little more than the shadow without the substance”. The frustration began to run high between the current government and the citizens of the states, the agitation for a more reliable and powerful federal government started the beginning of the U.S. Constitution. This strong will of agitation resulted in the Annapolis Convention of 1786 and also the Federal Constitutional Convention of 1787. This entailed the U.S. Constitution to be drafted.
        The Articles of Confederation was known as constitutional form of government and was run at the time by the men of the constitutional congresses.
Hirneisen 2... [continues]

Read full essay