What Are The Strengths And Weaknesses Of The Articles Of Confederation

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Articles of Confederation, written by John Dickinson and an appointed committee, served as the constitution of the United States from 1781 to 1789. After the colonies were free from Great Britain, each state had their own form of government. The articles sole purpose was to form one general government for the 13 states and bring about a “perpetual union”.
This document was important because it was our first attempt to govern ourselves under one general government. Finally free from British government under King George III, the Article of Confederation ensured Americans there would be no new monarchy. It brought together the 13 colonies and made the United States one powerful state.

There were many weaknesses caused by The Articles of Confederation. One issue was the Articles gave too much power to the states and not enough power to the general government. Due to no executive power, the States were allowed to run themselves. They were allowed to make and follow their own rules. The states
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From Massachusetts to South Carolina this angered the American farmers. Economic depression and years of bad harvests cause many farmers in the states to worry about losing their farms. And with the rise in taxes, losing their farms was a guarantee. In 1786 and 1787 the farmers held a series of protests called Shays Rebellion. This name originated by its symbolic leader, Daniel Shays of Massachusetts.
The lack of state governed laws, standardized currency and no rights for the American people caused the Shays Rebellion. The hardest hit was the farmers in Massachusetts. They pleaded with state governments to establish pro-debtor laws but since they ignored these pleas, farmers protested. The Shays Rebellion caused the government to finally listen and they gave the citizens a tax relief. The Shays Rebellion led to the end of the Article of Confederation and the beginning of the

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