The government under the Articles of Confederation was established to address the need for a unified national entity in the newly formed United States after declaring independence from Britain in 1776. It was the first constitution of the United States, ratified in 1781.
The main reason for setting up this government structure was a fear of creating a strong central authority that could become tyrannical, similar to the British monarchy they fought against. As a result, the Articles of Confederation established a weak central government with limited powers.
Under this system, the central government consisted of a unicameral legislature, with each state having a single vote. It did not have an executive branch or a judiciary, which resulted in significant limitations in the ability to enforce laws and settle disputes. The states retained most of the power, while the national government had very limited authority.
Several factors contributed to the establishment of this structure. Firstly, many of the founding fathers believed in the importance of individual state sovereignty. They wanted to maintain the autonomy and independence of each state, while still having a loose confederation for matters of common interest, such as defense against foreign threats.
Additionally, the Revolutionary War had exhausted the resources of the colonies, making them reluctant to authorize a strong central government that could impose taxes or regulate trade. The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government that was heavily dependent on the states for funding, as it lacked the power to levy taxes or generate revenue directly.
However, the shortcomings of the Articles soon became apparent. The central government struggled to solve issues such as interstate trade disputes, inadequate military defense, and coordination among the states. It lacked the power to enforce laws, regulate commerce, or intervene in disputes between states. These weaknesses led to the call for a stronger federal government, resulting in the drafting and ratification of the Constitution in 1787, which replaced the Articles of Confederation.
In summary, the government under the Articles of Confederation was established to balance the desire for state sovereignty with the need for a national entity in the newly independent United States. However, it ultimately proved to be inadequate due to its weak central government and limited powers, which led to its replacement with the Constitution.\
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