Speakers: Kim and Leah, US government and politics fellow.
Topic: The Articles of Confederation, the first Constitution of the United States before the current one from 1789.
Context and Creation
Time period: Created in 1777, during the American Revolution.
Purpose: To establish a government very different from a monarchy (limited government).
Aimed to avoid abuses seen in monarchy.
Structure of Government
Central Government: Extremely limited power.
No executive branch.
No judicial branch.
Only Congress existed.
Congress: Comprised of representatives from all 13 states, one per state.
Amendments: Required unanimous consent from all 13 states.
Passing Laws: Needed approval from 9 out of 13 states.
Achievements
Unity: United all 13 colonies into states under one government.
Treaty of Paris (1783): Ended the Revolutionary War.
Northwest Ordinance (1787): Outlined expansion and land management as the country moved west.
Challenges and Shortcomings
Decision Making: High difficulty in reaching consensus for laws and amendments.
Taxation and Military:
Congress couldn't levy or collect taxes.
No national military; relied on state militias.
Shay's Rebellion
Event: Armed rebellion in Massachusetts led by Daniel Shay.
Cause:
Unpaid veterans from the Revolutionary War.
High state taxes.
Issue:
Central government lacked funds to pay veterans.
No national military to suppress the rebellion.
Transition to a New Constitution
Response: Founding fathers like George Washington, Ben Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison recognized the need for change.
Outcome: Led to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 to draft a stronger central government.
New Constitution: Aimed for better functionality compared to the Articles of Confederation.
Conclusion
The Articles of Confederation played a crucial role in uniting the states but revealed significant limitations that necessitated a stronger federal system.