American History: Articles of Confederation Essay Example
American History: Articles of Confederation Essay Example

American History: Articles of Confederation Essay Example

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  • Pages: 3 (764 words)
  • Published: April 3, 2022
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The laws governing the government were found in the articles of confederation, which were influenced by the desire for unity among the states in America. Additionally, the articles aimed to establish order by granting powers to each state. As a result, the type of government formed favored individual state power.

The articles contributed to the formation of cooperation among the 13 states by addressing the fear of a strong central government. The articles stated that there was no federal government, meaning that branches such as legislative, executive, and judiciary did not exist. The articles emphasized the importance of each state retaining their independence, sovereignty, and freedom.

These articles began functioning on March 1st, 1781, following the signing by all states. The Articles of Confederation, in simpler terms, served as the initial constitution of the United States. Consequently, all govern

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mental activities were governed by these articles, which also aimed to promote unity among the 13 states. Nonetheless, the government established under the Articles of Confederation had its flaws and ultimately resulted in a confederate state.

The confederation government, in which state governments held most of the power instead of the national government, was established to prevent a tyrannical monarchy like Britain. This system lacked a supreme court or president, resulting in a weak national government. The need for a revised constitution arose due to several problems: a weak central government, congress's inability to regulate or tax trade, one vote per state regardless of population, and the absence of a judicial or executive branch and common currency. The constitutional convention was organized to revise the Articles of Federation.

A total of 70 delegates were chosen from all states, except for Rhod

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Island which did not select representatives. However, only 55 delegates attended the convention. The key goals of the convention included establishing a strong central government with a president holding significant powers and determining the structure of the legislative and judicial branches.

The issue of transferring power from the states posed some concerns. Certain delegates believed that this would disrupt the balance and security of interests that had been established among the states. Additionally, there was a debate regarding how the states should be represented in congress. This was because if representation was based solely on state population, certain states would be overrepresented. Ultimately, it was decided that each state would elect one representative for every 40,000 individuals.

Disagreements arose over the issue of slave trade, as some states supported it. The delegates reached an agreement that exports would not be taxed and there would be no law banning the trading of slaves until 1808. The process of ratification included several important elements, such as the fall campaign, winter in New England, springtime in the middle states, a long hot summer, and ensuring all the pillars are in place. One strength of the British side was their unbeatable appearance, influenced by their victories against powerful nations like France and Spain.

Despite the belief that the American side would lose, it is important to acknowledge that the British army was considered the most powerful globally. The soldiers on their side were provided with sufficient provisions, wages, discipline, and equipment. Furthermore, the British navy dominated the seas. Nevertheless, despite their strength, they faced a few drawbacks. Primarily, they were not familiar with this unfamiliar territory.

The difficulty in finding routes posed problems

for them. Furthermore, they were positioned too far away (3000 miles) from their reinforcements, leadership, and supplies. The fact that British military leaders were not part of the group fighting in the battlefield and their over-confidence resulted in a lack of strength. However, the fact that the British fought far away from home worked to the advantage of the Americans as supplies, troops, and military orders took a long time to reach the army.

Additionally, the British side had taken on the challenging task of convincing the Americans to relinquish their independence. The Americans were driven by their determination to fight for their own liberty, independence, and rights. The American leadership was highly skilled and capable. Furthermore, the American side employed unconventional warfare tactics such as hit-and-run strategies. However, a significant weakness for the Americans was their insufficient funds.

The lack of funds to provide basic war necessities for their military and support from many tribes in India for the British dealt a significant blow to the Americans. The major factors leading to the defeat of the British included their failure to disband or capture Washington's army, divided opinions in Parliament regarding the war, the Franco-American Alliance, a lack of support from loyalists, and an inability to effectively supply their own army.

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