Confederation Congress

Definition

The Confederation Congress was the governing body that operated from 1781 to 1789 under the Articles of Confederation, representing the thirteen American states during the critical years following independence. This congress faced significant challenges, including a lack of centralized authority to enforce laws, manage finances, or regulate trade, which ultimately highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles and paved the way for the Constitutional Convention.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Confederation Congress was composed of representatives from each state, but each state had only one vote, regardless of its population or size.
2. It struggled to raise revenue since it could not impose taxes; instead, it had to request funds from the states, leading to financial instability.
3. The Congress was unable to effectively regulate interstate and foreign commerce, causing trade disputes and economic difficulties among states.
4. Meetings of the Confederation Congress were often poorly attended, revealing a lack of commitment from many state governments to support a strong central authority.
5. The failures and limitations of the Confederation Congress ultimately contributed to the call for a new constitution and the establishment of a stronger federal government.

Review Questions

• How did the structure and powers of the Confederation Congress reflect the concerns of the newly independent states regarding centralized authority?
  • The Confederation Congress was designed with a weak central authority to prevent any single entity from gaining too much power, reflecting fears from the colonies' experiences under British rule. Each state had equal representation regardless of size, emphasizing state sovereignty over national unity. However, this structure led to significant challenges such as financial instability and an inability to enforce laws, which ultimately showcased that a more balanced approach between state and federal powers was necessary.
• Evaluate how Shays' Rebellion illustrated the weaknesses of the Confederation Congress and contributed to calls for a stronger federal government.
  • Shays' Rebellion highlighted the inability of the Confederation Congress to maintain order and address economic distress among citizens, as it could not respond effectively to armed uprisings. The rebellion exposed weaknesses in federal authority and underscored the need for a government capable of enforcing laws and providing for economic stability. In response to such crises, many leaders recognized that a stronger federal framework was essential, leading to discussions that resulted in the Constitutional Convention.
• Analyze how the failures of the Confederation Congress shaped the debates during the Constitutional Convention and influenced the creation of the U.S. Constitution.
  • The failures of the Confederation Congress were pivotal in shaping debates at the Constitutional Convention as delegates sought solutions to issues like interstate commerce regulation and federal taxation. The inadequacies in governance under the Articles emphasized a need for a balanced system that could provide both state autonomy and sufficient federal power. Consequently, this led to compromises such as creating a bicameral legislature and granting Congress substantial authority, fundamentally altering how governance would function in America.

Related terms

Articles of Confederation:

The first written constitution of the United States, established in 1781, which created a weak central government that lacked the power to tax or regulate commerce.

Shays' Rebellion:

An armed uprising in 1786-1787 led by Massachusetts farmers protesting economic injustices and government overreach, highlighting the weaknesses of the Confederation Congress.

Constitutional Convention:

A gathering held in Philadelphia in 1787 aimed at addressing the issues with the Articles of Confederation and ultimately leading to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.