The Articles of Confederation :: essays papers

The Articles of ConfederationAdopted in congress in 1777 and ratified and in force in (1784?)Adopted for a) flux in vindication and warb) Foreign policybasic principle of articles for states to maintain control under central government assigned specific functions geological formation of government 1) one legislative house - unicameral legislature - passes laws2) 2-7 delegates per state3) 9 votes required to pass law4) 13/ unanimous votes needed to break Articles Powers defense - army, navy, and treaties with IndiansForeign affairs - warMoney - borrowing, spending, printing, determining value, coiningInternal affairs - Judge disputes in special court hearings between statesEnforcement laws determined by state therefore enforcement was selective to state desires and rarely doneState restrictions - states could not make war, treaties, international tariffs and coin moneyDuties of state - states must contribute money/army? When requested by congressStates must pay taxes based on lan dWeaknesses of Articles - I. trade regulation - congress had no power to regulate trade - done by states - causeda) tariffs on imports and exports established by statesb) states competed over control of waterwaysc) Foreign trade was diminishing interstate trade was as well as stopping because of tariffs on each other making trade difficultII. Enforcementa) Central government included no enforcement/ executive branchb) Rules mostly cut1) taxes decided by congress based on land ( to be paid by states - didnt pay - congress had no income and had to borrow- land basis crappy for south - few people and lot of land2) no income for army - regulated number soldiers per state not given - kept for own defenseresult - SHAYS REBELLION - Begun by Daniel Shay - farmer in Massachusetts wanted to begin own government and revolted - Mass. didnt have enough army to persist rebellion - soldiers also farmers and on other side - asked congress for help but appeal to no avail - states didnt list4en t o congress cuz didnt care - continued for 6 months3) Treaty of Paris not enforced - states refused to compensate loyalist for property lost and collect debts owed to British merchants - money all used for war effortTherefore England also violate and move troops to Northwest Territory (fur trade)Spain and England restrict trade on Mississippi and right of deposit in crude OrleansIII. Money - each state illegally made their own currency- congress could not prevent it - 14 forms of currency causing it to be trifling and inflation - made congress and states suffer - foreign countries unwilling to trade and