The Articles of Confederation

Indeed, that was the first constitution of the United States. Now, let's explore how we arrived at this point in history. Let's rewind a bit. Since April of 1775, British and American soldiers had been engaging in battles during the Revolutionary War. Finally, on July 4th, 1776, the United States declared its independence. However, amidst all the conflicts and excitement, one crucial aspect was missing - a plan for the new country's government.

Around the time of the Declaration of Independence in July 1776, the question of establishing a new government was at the forefront of everyone's minds. A committee led by John Dickinson was assigned the task of drafting a plan, which took inspiration from Benjamin Franklin's early plan called the "Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union." After over a year of debate and discussion in the Continental Congress, they settled on a plan called the "Articles of Confederation."

Though not perfect, delegates agreed, and Congress adopted it on November 15, 1777. However, before it could be ratified, approval from all 13 states was required. This process was neither easy nor quick. Eight states ratified it by July 9, 1778, but it was when Maryland finally ratified it on March 1, 1781, that the goal was achieved, over three and a half years after its proposal.

The states were apprehensive about granting power to a national government, considering their recent break from Great Britain and the tyrannical rule of the English king. Hence, the Articles of Confederation established a weak central government with a single branch, Congress, mainly responsible for handling foreign relations and declaring war as needed. The states retained most of the power, which pleased them initially but led to numerous problems for the young nation.

Now, let's delve into the good and bad aspects of the Articles of Confederation. In Congress, each state received one vote, regardless of its population size, making all states equal. Congress had important powers such as managing foreign relations, dealing with Native American tribes, issuing money, borrowing money, establishing the post office, and maintaining the armed forces.

However, the weakness of the national government caused various issues. To pass new laws, agreement from nine out of 13 states was required, and any changes to the Articles of Confederation needed unanimous approval. As seen in the initial ratification process, this made reaching consensus difficult and time-consuming.

Furthermore, Congress lacked the power to enforce laws or collect taxes. This meant that states could choose whether to enforce the national government's laws or not. Additionally, since Congress couldn't levy taxes, it struggled with finances, leading to national debt. The states, with their own financial burdens, were often unable or unwilling to provide sufficient funding to the national government.

The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation were highlighted during the 1786 Massachusetts rebellion led by Daniel Shays. Farmers' anger over debt and taxes escalated into a short-lived rebellion, revealing the national government's inability to address such situations effectively.

As a result of these glaring weaknesses, delegates from 12 of the 13 states convened in 1787 to create a new document: the United States Constitution, which laid the foundation for the government we have today. This new constitution aimed to address the Articles of Confederation's flaws and ensure the United States's survival as a stable nation.