1985 DBQ AP United States History Essay Essay

As the first official document that go forthlined the United States political relation, the Articles of Confederation both reflected the principles and view points of the American Revolution and emphasise the practical uncertainties of democratic authorities. To say that the Articles of Confederation provided the United States with an effective government, would be over-exaggerating quite a bit. The Congress was weak, and was by design designed to be weak. They were purposely set up as a weak government so that the government could be less threatening. The American government didnt compulsion to be a tyrant like that of the British government. The Articles of Confederations initial inclination was to provide a loose confederation or firm group discussion of friendship. Thirteen independent states were therefore linked together for joint put through in dealing with foreign affairs. Despite their fragility, the Articles evoked to be a landmark in government, and at that time a model of what a loose confederation should be.The Articles of Confederation had many a(prenominal) accomplishments and military units. It ended the Revolutionary War. The U.S. government could claim some credit for the ultimate victory of Washingtons army and for negotiating favor fitted terms in the treaty of peace with Britain. It kept the states unified during the war, and dealt successfully with Hesperian lands. The Land Ordinance of 1785 was set up to pay off debt, distributed land in an orderly fashion, and provided land for humans education. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787was probably the greatest domestic success of the Articles express that 60,000 people was needed to become a state. This would prevent future problems for western colonies, and it forbade slavery. Document E The Articles of Confederation maintained sovereignty and equality among states(each having one and only(a) vote in Congress,) and had power to respond to foreign affairs, declare war, appoint mil itary officers, and come to money. Despite the Articles of Confederations strengths, they were also relatively weak.Under the Articles of Confederation nine out of thirteen states moldiness agree to pass legislation, and all thirteen must agree to amend new articles which were basically impossible. Neither did Congress scram any executive power to enforce its own laws. Congress couldnt regulate commute over between states and foreign nations, reqruit a military force, nor unvarying currency. Each statehad its own currency, which made travel and trade difficult.Trade regulations varied from state to state which created further difficulties. In a letter from the Rhode Island Assembly to Congress in 1782, it showed that under the Articles, the central government could not levy revenue enhancementes. To create a tax or change a law required a unanimous vote. Rhode Island listed a some reasons why they did not support the new tax. Some states refused to pay taxes. States argued n igh land and how some states received more land than the others. These issues led to shays Rebellion where many farmers lost land due to foreclosure and tax delinquency. Hundreds rebelled demanding cheap paper money. This period in time showed the government was alike weak.Another problem the government faced due to the lack of strength of the Articles were Britain trying to take advantage of that fact. The British maintained troops on the Canadian border and in the United States trading posts because the British knew that the Americas couldnt do anything due to lack of military. In John Jays instruction manual to the U.S. Minister to Great Britain, he describes the need of the minister to convince Britain to come to its troops. This caused great fear and troubled the Americans. The Americans worried that the British were unwilling to endure the Treaty of Paris and were plotting revenge. John Jay instructed the minister to be unyielding with the British. Britain and Spain didnt go about conquering America because the Americans owed them money. Eventually Spain seized the mouth of the disseminated sclerosis which cut trading routes.In Rawlin Lowndes speech to the South Carolina House of Representatives, he was debating the adoption of a federal constitution. Rawlin Lowndes believed that instead of just adopting a solely new constitution, they should just make new additions to the already existing Articles of Confederation. umteen Anti-Federalists had the same views as Rawlin Lowndes. When the Federalists finally agreed to add the Bill of Rights to the Constitution, they were able to win a very narrow majority. This proximityof the race showed that many people approved of the Articles and thought that they were an effective form of government.In doubting Thomas Jeffersons words, This mannikin of changing the constitution by assembling the intoxicating men of the state, instead of assembling armies, will be worth as much to the world as the former examp les we have given it. preliminary to this, nearly all constitutions or laws throughout the world were either perpetual or worse, were changed on a whim (by the king, for example). The only way to guess change, or the changes you wanted, were by force. The system set forth by the founders was one in which the laws were binding, yet there was an orderly and defined process by which they could be amended, by means of political process, not force.Thomas Jefferson was expressing that this example would spread throughout the world as better way to govern, and he was right. In spite of their defects, the Articles of Confederation were a significant stepping-stone toward the present Constitution. They understandably outlined the general powers that were to be exercised by the central government, such as making treaties, and establishing a postal service. Although some aspects of the Articles of Confederation were signs of an effective government, the facts prove that the Articles of Conf ederation were not an effective form of government because they lacked political stability, stinting growth and a productive foreign policy.