Main Reasons Why the Articles of Confederation Failed

Main Reasons Why the Articles of Confederation Failed

Brackemyre Ted. “America’s First Failure at Government: The Articles of Confederation.” Accessed from http://ushistoryscene.com/article/articles-of-confederation/ on December 1, 2019

Brackemyre Ted is a prolific writer about the United States’ internal affairs. He has learned at Indiana University for an undergraduate degree in economics, political science, and History. He later joined the Harvard Law school between 2014 1st 2017. Currently, Ted serves as the Trade Innovation Initiative project leader. He is a student organizer at the Harvard Law School Anniversary Conferences. He is also serving as a cutler fellow in International Law. He represents clients in customs and border issues in the US trade court litigations. He owns a consultancy firm and implores upon clients to obey the export regulations.

The article explores the challenges that arose in attempts to establish the first American constitution and government. Ted identifies that three main problems led to the failed attempt. These challenges included economic disorganization, legislative inefficiencies, and lack of central leadership in America. In economic confusion, the writer identifies that Congress was unable to control trade, and this led to financial difficulties and unfair competition between the states. Again, economic disorganization arose from the lack of common currency and the inability of the Congress to draft and impose tax laws. The lack of a central system of government meant that the country lacked an independent judiciary. Again, the country could not handle either internal or external threats. Each state could only cast a single vote, in spite of its size and population, and this made it difficult to make laws. The article is relevant in my research because it handles the specific reasons that led to the failure of the pieces of confederation.

Kelly, Martin. “Why the Articles of Confederation Failed.” (2019). Accessed from https://www.thoughtco.com/why-articles-of-confederation-failed-104674 on December 1, 2019

Martin Kelly has served as a teacher of History and social studies. Kelly is also a writer and has authored two books of History. One of the books explores American colonial life, while the other discusses American presidents. He works on online web-based education courses as a course developer at Pamoja Education Company based in the UK. He currently lives in Tampa, Florida.

The article traces the History through specific dates and times in History. Kelly identifies that the items were first developed as a unifying factor of 13 colonies that participated in the American Revolution. The 13 colonies ratified the document in 1781, but it did not succeed in its original objectives. According to Kelly, three issues caused the failure of these confederation articles. The reasons for the failure include economic, leadership, and military matters. In economics, Kelly identifies that the Congress lacked the power to impose taxes, and did not have the authority to control trade. In terms of leadership, Kelly asserts that there was no executive branch to enforce the acts passed by Congress. Again, there was no judicial system to interpret and draft laws. Finally, every colony had its military, and the national government could not control the individual state’s militia. The article is relevant in my research; it highlights the same points and reasons for the failure of the confederation document. I will use the material and compare the findings with the Brackemyre Ted article to solidify the ideas and points for the failed confederation document.

Maggs, Gregory E. “A Concise Guide to the Articles of Confederation as a Source for Determining the Original Meaning of the Constitution.” Geo. Wash. L. Rev. 85 (2017): 397.

Professor Gregory E. Maggs was born on June 27, 1964. He has served several capacities, such as a judge in the US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. He also served as a research professor of law at the Arthur Selwyn Miller, a co-director in the National Security and the American Foreign Law program and a professor of law at the George Washington University law school. Besides serving in different capacities, Gregory Maggs has also authored several books that highlight the constitutional processes and interpretation of various clauses in the constitution.

The article explores the History of the pieces of confederation. The reasons behind the constitution of such materials, and the constitutional definition and place of the said articles. The author starts by referring to the several times the supreme court had reviewed the items to confederation to indicate the controversial understanding of the materials. In the preliminaries, George explains that these articles had a significant impact on informing the process of constitutional interpretation through many jurists’ content that the pieces only formed a basis for a weak American union. The book is divided into three parts, with part one discussing the original ideas in the articles of confederation. In part two, the author explores the different definitions of the original meaning of the opinions in the confederation articles. Finally, George examines the four arguments arising from these articles. The material is relevant for use in my research because it details out a critical analysis of the content in the articles of confederation