Strengths and Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

🏛️ The Articles of Confederation

After winning independence from Britain in 1783, the thirteen new states faced a big question: How could they create a government that protected freedom without becoming too powerful—like the British king? Their answer was the Articles of Confederation, America’s first plan for government.

📜 What It Was

Written in 1777 and approved in 1781, the Articles of Confederation were the first constitution of the United States. It created a loose group of states that agreed to work together, but each state kept most of its power.

There was no president, no national court system, and only a one-house Congress where each state had one vote.

Congress could:

• Declare war and make peace
• Create treaties
• Print and borrow money
• Deal with Native American affairs

But Congress could not tax, enforce laws, or control trade between states.

⚖️ Why They Made It That Way

The Founders were afraid of creating another powerful ruler like King George III. They wanted to make sure the government couldn’t take away people’s rights or control the states too much. So, they made the national government weak on purpose.

🌟 Strengths of the Articles of Confederation

Even though the Articles had problems, they helped the new country in some important ways.

🗺️ Land Ordinance of 1785

This law set up a plan for dividing and selling land in the Northwest Territory (lands north of the Ohio River).

• It split land into 36 square sections for sale.
• One section in each township was saved to pay for public schools, showing the importance of education.

🌎 Northwest Ordinance of 1787

This law explained how new territories could become states.

• When a territory had 60,000 people, it could apply for statehood.
• It banned slavery in the Northwest Territory.
• It guaranteed freedom of religion and trial by jury for settlers.

These laws were big accomplishments—they showed that even with limited power, the government could still organize new land and help the country grow.

💥 Weaknesses and Problems

However, the Articles created many issues:

• Congress couldn’t tax, so the government had no money.
• There was no president or national court system to enforce laws.
• Each state printed its own money and made its own trade rules, causing arguments and confusion.
• States often acted only in their own interest, not for the good of the country.

When Shays’ Rebellion broke out in Massachusetts (1786–1787), the national government couldn’t stop the angry farmers because it had no army or funds. Many Americans realized that a stronger government was needed.

🇺🇸 How It Led to the Constitution

By 1787, leaders met in Philadelphia to fix the Articles—but instead, they wrote a new plan: the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution created a stronger national government that could tax, enforce laws, and regulate trade, while still protecting freedom and state rights.

💭 Inquiry Questions

1️⃣ The Land Ordinance and Northwest Ordinance were big successes. What do these laws show about what the government cared about most after the Revolution?

2️⃣ The Articles of Confederation made the national government weak on purpose. Why might that seem like a good idea at first—but turn into a problem later on?

The Land Ordinance and Northwest Ordinance were big successes. What do these laws show about what the government cared about most after the Revolution?

The Articles of Confederation made the national government weak on purpose. Why might that seem like a good idea at first—but turn into a problem later on?