Question
The ARTICLES of CONFEDERATION and PERPETUAL UNION
Between The States Of New Hampshire, Massachusetts-bay Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
ARTICLE I — The Stile of this Confederacy shall be "The United States of America".
ARTICLE II — Each state retains its sovereignty (governmental power), freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.
SOURCE: The Articles of Confederation.
1. What rights and powers do the states have under the Articles of Confederation?
2. Who runs the US as the leader under the Articles of Confederation (if anyone at all)?
3. Describe the role of Congress under the Articles of Confederation.
4. Did the Articles of Confederation grant more power to the states, or more power to the federal government? Do you think this could be a problem? Why or why not?
Between The States Of New Hampshire, Massachusetts-bay Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
ARTICLE I — The Stile of this Confederacy shall be "The United States of America".
ARTICLE II — Each state retains its sovereignty (governmental power), freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.
SOURCE: The Articles of Confederation.
1. What rights and powers do the states have under the Articles of Confederation?
2. Who runs the US as the leader under the Articles of Confederation (if anyone at all)?
3. Describe the role of Congress under the Articles of Confederation.
4. Did the Articles of Confederation grant more power to the states, or more power to the federal government? Do you think this could be a problem? Why or why not?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
1. **What rights and powers do the states have under the Articles of Confederation?**
Under the Articles of Confederation, states retained their sovereignty, freedom, and independence. This means they held all powers and rights not expressly delegated to the federal government. States controlled their own governance, including laws, taxation, and regulation of commerce within their borders. They could manage their own affairs without interference from the federal government, which meant they had significant authority in areas such as military organization, interactions with native tribes, and determination of their own laws.
2. **Who runs the US as the leader under the Articles of Confederation (if anyone at all)?**
There was no singular leader of the United States under the Articles of Confederation. The central government was primarily a Congress that was composed of delegates from each state. There was no president or executive branch to enforce laws. Each state had one vote, regardless of size or population, in Congress. This lack of a strong executive leadership meant that decision-making could be slow and cumbersome, often leading to challenges in governance.
3. **Describe the role of Congress under the Articles of Confederation.**
Congress, as the central governing body under the Articles of Confederation, was responsible for making decisions on matters that affected all the states, such as conducting foreign affairs, managing diplomacy, and overseeing issues related to war and peace. Congress could also make treaties and alliances, and it had the authority to manage disputes between states. However, it had limited powers; notably, it could not levy taxes or regulate interstate commerce without the consent of the states, which significantly hampered its effectiveness. Decisions often required a supermajority, making it difficult to enact policies.
4. **Did the Articles of Confederation grant more power to the states, or more power to the federal government? Do you think this could be a problem? Why or why not?**
The Articles of Confederation granted significantly more power to the states than to the federal government. This structure created a weak central authority that struggled to effectively govern the nation. It could be a problem because such a lack of centralized power often resulted in inefficiency and incapacity to address national issues, such as economic instability, interstate disputes, and defense concerns. The inability to impose taxes or regulate trade undermined the federal government's ability to function effectively. Ultimately, these weaknesses led to the conclusion that a more robust federal government was necessary, which resulted in the drafting of the United States Constitution in 1787.
Under the Articles of Confederation, states retained their sovereignty, freedom, and independence. This means they held all powers and rights not expressly delegated to the federal government. States controlled their own governance, including laws, taxation, and regulation of commerce within their borders. They could manage their own affairs without interference from the federal government, which meant they had significant authority in areas such as military organization, interactions with native tribes, and determination of their own laws.
2. **Who runs the US as the leader under the Articles of Confederation (if anyone at all)?**
There was no singular leader of the United States under the Articles of Confederation. The central government was primarily a Congress that was composed of delegates from each state. There was no president or executive branch to enforce laws. Each state had one vote, regardless of size or population, in Congress. This lack of a strong executive leadership meant that decision-making could be slow and cumbersome, often leading to challenges in governance.
3. **Describe the role of Congress under the Articles of Confederation.**
Congress, as the central governing body under the Articles of Confederation, was responsible for making decisions on matters that affected all the states, such as conducting foreign affairs, managing diplomacy, and overseeing issues related to war and peace. Congress could also make treaties and alliances, and it had the authority to manage disputes between states. However, it had limited powers; notably, it could not levy taxes or regulate interstate commerce without the consent of the states, which significantly hampered its effectiveness. Decisions often required a supermajority, making it difficult to enact policies.
4. **Did the Articles of Confederation grant more power to the states, or more power to the federal government? Do you think this could be a problem? Why or why not?**
The Articles of Confederation granted significantly more power to the states than to the federal government. This structure created a weak central authority that struggled to effectively govern the nation. It could be a problem because such a lack of centralized power often resulted in inefficiency and incapacity to address national issues, such as economic instability, interstate disputes, and defense concerns. The inability to impose taxes or regulate trade undermined the federal government's ability to function effectively. Ultimately, these weaknesses led to the conclusion that a more robust federal government was necessary, which resulted in the drafting of the United States Constitution in 1787.