What Were the Articles of Confederation? | History

Summary

The video script discusses the early days of the United States under the Articles of Confederation, a weak central government system that led to economic and social turmoil. It highlights the inability to levy taxes, repay war debts, and maintain peace, exemplified by Shay's Rebellion. The founding fathers, recognizing these issues, drafted a new Constitution, which established a stronger federal government and is still in effect today. The script also humorously touches on the cost of modern presidential campaigns.

Takeaways

• 📜 The United States initially operated under the Articles of Confederation, which was a weak central government system.
• 🏛️ The founding fathers intentionally designed a nation with a weak central government due to their fresh experience with British rule.
• 🚫 There was no judicial or executive branch under the Articles of Confederation, and thus, no president.
• 🤝 The Congress under the Articles was a single chamber with limited powers, such as making treaties but not levying taxes.
• 💵 States were not required to pay federal taxes, leading to voluntary contributions and an inability to repay war debts.
• 💸 The lack of tax power led to a significant economic crisis, as the United States couldn't repay loans from European investors.
• 🚨 The central government's inability to maintain peace was evident during Shay's Rebellion, a violent protest against high taxes.
• ✍️ Amending the Articles of Confederation was nearly impossible, requiring unanimous consent from the thirteen states.
• 🗳️ The founding fathers recognized the inefficiencies of the Articles and drafted a new Constitution to address these issues.
• 💰 Running for president is expensive, with campaign costs including advertisements, travel, conventions, and even bumper stickers.

Q & A

What was the Articles of Confederation?

The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of the United States, creating a nation of independent states with a very weak central government.

Why was the central government under the Articles of Confederation considered weak?

The central government was weak because it lacked a judicial and executive branch, and it had no power to levy taxes, relying on voluntary contributions from the states.

What was the role of Congress under the Articles of Confederation?

Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress was a single chamber with a delegate from every state. It had limited powers, such as making treaties and alliances, maintaining an army, and coining money, but it couldn't levy taxes.

Why was paying federal taxes voluntary for the states under the Articles of Confederation?

Paying federal taxes was voluntary because the central government had no power to enforce tax collection, leading the states to often refuse to contribute.

How did the lack of taxation power affect the United States' ability to repay its debts after the Revolutionary War?

The inability to levy taxes meant the United States couldn't pay back debts to European investors and nations, leading to a huge economic disaster.

What event highlighted the weakness of the central government under the Articles of Confederation?

Shay's Rebellion in 1786 highlighted the weakness of the central government, as it couldn't effectively protect peace at home during the violent protests against high taxes in Massachusetts.

Why was it difficult to amend the Articles of Confederation?

Amending the Articles of Confederation required unanimous consent from the delegates of the thirteen states, which was practically impossible due to the diverse opinions among them.

What led the founding fathers to draft a new Constitution?

The founding fathers drafted a new Constitution due to the ineffectiveness of the Articles of Confederation, which resulted in a broke and powerless federal government that couldn't accomplish much.

How did the founding fathers address the issues of the Articles of Confederation in the new Constitution?

The founding fathers addressed the issues by creating a stronger central government with a bicameral Congress, an executive branch with a president, and a judicial branch, and by giving the federal government the power to tax.

What is the significance of the new Constitution drafted by the founding fathers?

The new Constitution, which replaced the Articles of Confederation, is significant as it established the framework for the federal government that still governs the United States today.

How is the process of getting elected president described in the script?

The script describes the process of getting elected president as an expensive business, involving costs for advertisements, travel, conventions, and even bumper stickers.