The Articles of Confederation Inherent Flaws

The Articles of Confederation Inherent Flaws Overview The United States' first post-independence constitution, the Articles of Confederation, demonstrated the difficulties of establishing a new country. The Articles had significant flaws that prevented efficient government, even if their original purpose was to protect state sovereignty and restrict federal power. Significant obstacles were the incapacity to impose taxes, control trade, and enforce the law, which demonstrated that a more robust federal structure was essential to the country's existence. This essay will examine these flaws in-depth and discuss how they affect the young nation. Law Enforcement's Weaknesses A central power to enforce regulations was one of the main shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation. Every state ran its own affairs and frequently disregarded decisions made by the federal government. Shay's Rebellion, for example, took place in 1786 and was a protest by Massachusetts farmers over economic inequities and the failure of the federal government to step in. The government was rendered helpless by the absence of a standing army and federal enforcement mechanisms, demonstrating that the Articles had established a flimsy framework incapable of upholding law and order or resolving internal disputes. Unable to Control Trade The lack of an interstate commerce regulation mechanism was one of the Articles' main weaknesses. Due to the ability of states to levy taxes on commodities from their neighbors, trade wars and economic tensions between states resulted. The trade conflict between Maryland and Virginia over taxes placed on products crossing the Potomac River stands out as the most prominent example. The economic volatility brought on by these disagreements demonstrated how important federal regulation was for economic cohesion and threatened national unity in the absence of a uniform trade policy. In the end, this laxity of regulation hampered economic expansion and incited discontent among state residents. Inability to Impose Taxes The Articles also drastically curtailed the federal government's capacity to impose taxes, leaving it to rely entirely on voluntary state payments. Due to this deficit, the federal government was unable to pay for necessities like the armed forces and settle debts from the Revolutionary War. When the federal government failed to pay its soldiers, it was clear that there was a lack of a steady source of income. This resulted in payments being delayed and soldiers becoming disenchanted. This financial instability served as more evidence that maintaining national integrity requires a strong federal government that can raise money through taxes. In summary To sum up, the Articles of Confederation played a significant role in the formation of American government, but their inherent flaws eventually made a more centralized federal government necessary. The incapacity to impose taxes, control business, and execute the law revealed serious weaknesses that endangered state unity and economic stability. Due to these flaws, the Constitutional Convention was called for, and as a result, a more powerful federal government was established, better able to handle matters of national concern. Comprehending these shortcomings is important to grasping the development of American governance and the insights gained regarding the equilibrium between state and federal authorities. Citations Cook, Richard. 2018). An analysis of the Articles of Confederation using primary sources. Greenhaven Press New York Edling, M. (2003). The Constitutional Foundations of the American Political Nation: A Revolution in Favor of Government, 1760–1789. The University of Virginia Press Middlekauff. 2005. The American Revolution, 1763-1789, is The Glorious Cause. Oxford University Press