Articles Of Confederation Dbq

Gabriela Velazques

Professor Peshkoff

28 October 2015

The Articles of Confederation: States prevail, Congress fails to

The Article of Confederation was a promise for united colonies, but it did not take long for the promise to change. The colonies had no clear intentions of running as a union due to its previous history with Great Britain. Colonies wanted to remain together, just not under one authority. The Articles of Confederation remained as the first constitution of the United States for less than a decade after various disagreements arose between states, and also Congress. Two prominent groups set a foundation on how much authority and power the federal government and sates should possess, they were the Federalists and Antifederalist.

The Articles of Confederation which was ratified and in effect in 1781, included thirteen articles that ranged from limits of the powers of states and government as a Confederation, to ways to change or amend the articles. The Articles of Confederation had two prominent groups, the Federalist and Antifederalists who had different views on how central the government should be to the united colonies.

In Article 2 it guaranteed the absolute freedom, independence, and sovereignty of each state. That meant that Congress was essentially only limited to do its job based on the states. This section of the article was interpreted could be interpreted as broad and could take into several interpretations of the balance with Congress and states; therefore, it was looked as a weak and misguided interpretation of the central government. “Congress lacked an executive branch, a judiciary, and a permanent home, Absenteeism, and those who did go to congress lacked the power to enforce government decisions “() and it made if difficult for the government to be able to receive funds for expenses, manage the lands on the west, and to control the social unrest. It was clear as the united colonies began to live under the Articles of Confederation that their rights and powers dominated the

This section of the Articles of Confederation gradually changes among the thirteen states as states began to change as their wants and needs differ.

In Article 5 it created the outline for the organization and duties of the Confederation government. Congress was made as the single chamber.

In Article 6 it mentioned about powers denied to states. Some of the powers that were denied to the states that dealt with foreign affairs affected citizens and their view on Congress. For example, in the 1780s, frontiersmen talked to British and Spanish officials seeking protection from the Indians because Congress had failed to do