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Articles of Confederation


            At the end of the Revolutionary War, there was a need for an effective form of government. Unfortunately, the Articles of Confederation were not the answer because of their inability to negotiate foreign policy, maintain and establish domestic policy, and enforce decisions. The Articles were adopted by the 1st Continental Congress in 1781, creating a loose confederation of independent states that gave limited powers to a central government, known as Congress. Because each state had such a different plan of rule and their own selfish desires, the establishment of a strong central government was impossible. The main problems with the Articles of Confederation were that they did not give Congress the power to enforce laws or unify the states, there was no monetary system to ensure that taxes would be paid or to protect commerce, both nationally and foreign trade, and the country lacked unity and strength because of the lack of leadership. .
             The Articles of Confederation arranged a national government that consisted of a single house of Congress, where each state had one vote. Congress had the power to set up a postal department, to estimate the costs of the government and request donations from the states, and to raise armed forces. Congress could also borrow money as well as declare war and enter into treaties and alliances with foreign nations. An example of this can be seen through the Peace of Paris. Although the Articles introduced some policies and freedoms that the United States still enjoys today, leaders such as John Jay and James Madison criticized the work because it could not establish a strong government (Doc. G). They complained that the government was so weak that it had to have nine state majority votes just to pass a law. .
             During the reign of the Articles of Confederation, Congress only could recommend actions for the states to make, without any way of enforcing these laws.


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