Glossary
Articles of Confederation
The first governing document of the United States, adopted in 1777, which established a loose alliance of states with a very weak central government.
Example:
Under the ,Articles of Confederation, the newly independent states operated almost like separate countries, often prioritizing their own interests over national unity.
No Control Over Commerce
The absence of federal authority to regulate trade between states or with foreign nations.
Example:
States imposing tariffs on each other's goods, a result of no control over commerce, created economic chaos and hindered the development of a unified national economy.
No Executive or Judicial Branches
The lack of a president to enforce laws and a national court system to interpret them under the Articles of Confederation.
Example:
Without no executive or judicial branches, there was no single leader to direct national policy and no consistent way to resolve disputes between states, making governance highly inefficient.
No Taxation Powers
The inability of the federal government to directly levy or collect taxes from citizens or states.
Example:
Because of no taxation powers, the national government couldn't pay its soldiers or debts, leading to widespread discontent and a near-collapse of national finances.
Shays' Rebellion
An armed uprising of Massachusetts farmers in 1786-1787, protesting economic hardship and foreclosures, which exposed the severe weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
Example:
The inability of the national government to quickly suppress Shays' Rebellion highlighted the urgent need for a stronger federal authority capable of maintaining order and protecting property.
US Constitution
The current supreme law of the United States, ratified in 1788, which established a stronger federal government with distinct branches and powers.
Example:
The US Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation, creating a more robust framework for governance that included a president, a national court system, and the power to tax.
Unanimity for Changes
The requirement that all thirteen states had to agree to any amendment or change to the Articles of Confederation.
Example:
The rule of unanimity for changes made it virtually impossible to fix the Articles' glaring flaws, as even one dissenting state could block crucial reforms.
Weak Central Government
A governmental structure where the national authority possesses limited powers, with most power residing at the state level.
Example:
The weak central government under the Articles meant that if a state refused to send troops or money, the national government had no way to compel them, leading to significant instability.