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1.4 Challenges of the Articles of Confederation
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Introduction
The Articles of Confederation, adopted in 1777 during the Revolutionary War and ratified in 1781, served as the first constitution of the United States. Designed to unite the newly independent states while avoiding tyranny, the Articles created a weak central government and granted significant power to individual states. However, the limitations of this structure soon became apparent. The federal government had no power to tax, no authority over interstate commerce, and lacked both an executive branch to enforce laws and a national judiciary to resolve disputes. These structural flaws led to widespread economic disarray, political instability, and an inability to respond to national crises—culminating in the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
Core Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
The Articles reflected the colonists’ fear of centralized power, but the resulting system was too weak to govern effectively. Several key limitations illustrate why the Articles ultimately failed:
| Weakness | Description |
|---|---|
| No power to tax | Congress could request funds but not compel states to pay. |
| No executive branch | No president or national leader to enforce laws. |
| No national judiciary | No courts to resolve disputes between states or interpret national law. |
| No regulation of interstate commerce | States taxed one another and printed their own money, creating confusion. |
| Unanimous amendment process | All 13 states had to approve changes—making reform nearly impossible. |
| No standing army | Congress could not raise a national army to respond to internal threats. |
The Articles of Confederation created a fragile system of government, prioritizing state sovereignty over national unity. The result was a federal government too weak to function effectively. The following five weaknesses, highlighted by real-world incidents and legal challenges, played a major role in prompting the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.
1. Lack of Centralized Military Power to Address Shays’ Rebellion
Congress lacked the authority to maintain a standing army or compel states to contribute troops. When internal conflict erupted, the national government was powerless to respond.
- Shays’ Rebellion (1786–87) exemplified this flaw. When farmers in Massachusetts rebelled against debt-related foreclosures and taxation, the national government was unable to raise a force to stop them.
- The rebellion had to be suppressed by the state militia, revealing the federal government’s inability to provide security and enforce order.
⭐ Why it matters: The absence of military power undermined the government's ability to protect its citizens and enforce laws during times of crisis.
2. Lack of an Executive Branch to Enforce Laws, Including Taxation
Under the Articles, there was no executive branch—no president or centralized authority to implement and enforce the laws passed by Congress.
- Congress could request taxes and compliance from states but had no power to enforce those requests.
- As a result, states often ignored federal laws or funding requests, leaving the government underfunded and ineffective.
⭐ Why it matters: Laws without enforcement are meaningless; the government could make decisions but had no means to carry them out.
3. Lack of a National Court System
The Articles provided no national judiciary to interpret laws or resolve disputes between states.
- Conflicts between states—such as border disputes or trade disagreements—had no neutral arbiter.
- There was no institution to ensure that laws were applied consistently across the country.
⭐ Why it matters: Without a court system, there was no legal mechanism to settle disputes or clarify the law—each state interpreted its own rules.
4. Lack of Power to Regulate Interstate Commerce
Congress could not regulate trade between states or with foreign nations.
- States imposed tariffs on one another, maintained separate currencies, and followed conflicting trade regulations.
- These practices discouraged interstate commerce and economic growth, creating confusion and inefficiency in the national economy.
⭐ Why it matters: A fragmented economic system weakened national unity and stifled the growth of a cohesive American market.
5. Lack of the Exclusive Power to Coin Money
Both the national government and the states retained the power to coin currency, leading to economic instability.
- States printed their own money, often with little backing, leading to rampant inflation.
- Currency values varied wildly, and it became difficult to conduct business across state lines.
⭐ Why it matters: Competing currencies and inflation weakened public confidence and disrupted trade, both domestically and internationally.
Shays’ Rebellion and the Fear of Anarchy
In 1786–87, a series of armed protests in western Massachusetts—known as Shays’ Rebellion—revealed the profound weaknesses of the Articles. Led by Daniel Shays, a former Revolutionary War captain, poor farmers and veterans rose up against high taxes, foreclosures, and economic injustice.
Causes:
- Economic depression
- Heavy state taxes
- Lack of national currency
- Debtors’ prisons
What Happened:
The Massachusetts government struggled to respond due to the absence of a federal military. The rebellion was ultimately crushed by state militias, but it alarmed national leaders.
⭐ Why it matters: The inability of the national government to suppress the rebellion underscored the need for a stronger federal system.
From Articles to Constitution: A Shift in Government Philosophy
The shortcomings of the Articles led many leaders—including George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison—to call for a Constitutional Convention. Held in Philadelphia in 1787, the convention aimed to replace, not merely revise, the Articles.
The new U.S. Constitution created:
- A stronger central government with power to tax, regulate commerce, and maintain a military
- An executive branch (the presidency) to enforce laws
- A federal judiciary to resolve disputes and interpret the law
- A more flexible process for amendments
- A bicameral legislature to balance state and population representation
This new framework addressed nearly every failing of the Articles and established a lasting foundation for American governance.
Key Incidents and Challenges Under the Articles
| Challenge | Example/Impact |
|---|---|
| Lack of military power | Shays’ Rebellion exposed inability to suppress uprisings. |
| No executive enforcement | Congress couldn’t enforce its own laws or treaties. |
| No national court system | Legal conflicts between states went unresolved. |
| Economic disunity | Trade barriers and varied currencies caused economic hardship. |
| Amendment rigidity | Needed unanimous consent—reforms were nearly impossible to enact. |
Each of these issues illustrated how the Articles failed to provide a functioning national government. These failures ultimately justified the drastic changes enacted under the Constitution.
Review Section
Key Terms
- Articles of Confederation: America’s first constitution; emphasized state sovereignty and limited central power.
- Unicameral Legislature: The only national institution under the Articles.
- Commerce Clause: Absent in the Articles, added to the Constitution to promote trade and unity.
- Shays’ Rebellion: A post-Revolutionary crisis that revealed the central government’s weakness.
- Constitutional Convention (1787): Meeting to replace the Articles with a stronger federal system.