Many pundits and historians perceive the years to 1781- as the most vital period in the American’s history. The period saw the formation of American states after successful rebellion against the British colonial rule. These free colonies for effective governance had to form frameworks that would see to it stability and development prevailed. The Articles of Confederation was the ultimate basis for the creation of proper governance systems. This primary constitution had been ratified by all free states in 1781 even before the ceasing of the Revolutionary war (Smith &Ronald 671). These laws however deemed short in meeting the emerging needs of the United States from their creation in 1781 to their disbandment in 1789. It is thus prudent to note that the articles were essential in showing the American citizenry the need for a strengthened federal government.
In order to understand, the emerging issues regarding the ineffectiveness of the Articles of Confederation, it is integral to focus on various legislation and documentation. The letter from the Rhode Island Assembly to Congress dated November 30, 1782, is one example. The letter raised issues regarding the issuance of a common tariff for the whole confederation. It was opposed on the basis that no uniform tariff would be acceptable to the two thirds of the states (Smith &Ronald 708). It faced strong opposition from mainly Rhode Island, a major economic hub, and other commercial states making it hard for the central government to institute a common tariff. The letter further exposed mistrust amongst appointed congress officials and the much reluctance to empower the congress. The February 27, 1783 Letter from Delegate Joseph James of Virginia to George Washington espoused another problem faced by the central government. The congress did not have the power to effect taxes on individual states. There were no mechanisms to ensure that the central government generates revenue which had grave effects. It meant that most of the public creditors could not receive their pay (Axelrod 143). The Congress too lacked the funds to pay the army that were vital in ensuring law and order prevailed in the young nation.
The disunity of the confederation and the weakened army translated to a weak foreign policy. Many foreign states did not feel the need to respect the demands of the Congress due to these factors. The March 7, 1785 John Jay’s instructions to the Great Britain to demand” in a rightful but firm manner” the end of the British controls on US trade and the return of US territory frontier posts under British control. These demands were not effected not until 1830’s under a strengthened central US government. The weakness of the confederation’s policy was further illustrated by the 1786 Spanish demands that the US relinquishes its western lands claims and navigation rights along the Mississippi river. John Jay conceded to these demands in 1786, but these rights would later be secured in 1794, Pinckney’s Treaty and land claims settled forcefully in the 19th century (Axelrod 162). It was, thus, evident that the Articles of Confederation were futile in achieving the foreign policy goals.
The weaknesses of the confederation sparked rebellions such as the 1787 Daniel Shay, (a west Massachusetts farmer) -led rebellion that was hard to crush. There was growing discontent that was not only expressed by the masses. This was well captured by John Jay’s letter to George Washington on June 27, 1786. Jay warned that the aristocrats (the better kind of people) would soon join the rebellion for the sake of their property’s security (Axelrod 74). They would participate in any “almost any change that may promise security”. These concerns by John Jay were proven right in 1789 when the confederation was scrapped to give way to the American constitution. Various US state men met in Philadelphia to ensure that the new constitution brought in a different government to power. A government that was much centralized and stronger.
This had been made possible further by earlier suggestions Rawlin Lowndes speech in January, 17, 1788 regarding the need to create alterations to the articles of confederation. Though, Lowndes supported the altering of the articles rather than creation of a new constitution his concerns pointed to the common belief that there was a need for a much effective government. (Smith &Ronald 812) This effective government was, fortunately, made possible by the new constitution. It was obvious that the confederation articles had failed in raising national revenue through taxation or tariffs which would have paid off public debtors as well as pay and strengthen the army in its efforts to secure the US borders and cement a sound foreign policy. On a positive note, the articles, provided a basis for establishing the need for a stronger federal government and shift from a disunited collection of former colonies to the conception of the United States of America.
Works Cited
Axelrod, Alan. The Real History of the American Revolution: A New Look at the Past. New York: Sterling, 2007. Print.
Smith, Paul H, and Ronald M. Gephart. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774-1789. Washington: Library of Congress, 1976. Print.
