Simone Lawson
The Constitution of 1777, also known as the Articles of Confederation, was the first American constitution. It was sent to the 13 states for consideration but did not last long due to several weaknesses. One of its main weaknesses was the imbalance of power between the legislative body and the other branches of government, with the legislative branch holding more power, leading to potential instability. Additionally, the central government was weak and lacked the ability to enforce laws, needing approval from all 13 states before implementing new regulations. These weaknesses contributed to the Constitution of 1777's short lifespan, and it was eventually replaced by the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
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What You'll Learn
The central government was weak
The Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States, was adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777. It established a weak central government, leaving most of the power with the state governments.
The central government was extremely limited in its powers. It lacked the authority to regulate commerce, making it unable to protect or standardise trade between foreign nations and the various states. It also lacked the power to settle disputes between states. Disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the country apart.
The central government did not have the power to tax, and it lacked domestic and international powers and standing. It was unable to conduct foreign policy, and it could not raise funds without the voluntary agreement of the states.
The weakness of the central government encouraged many delegates to pay more attention to politics in their home states and to their personal affairs than to the nation's legislative body. The states were on the brink of economic disaster, and the central government had little power to settle quarrels between states.
The Articles of Confederation provided for a one-house legislature, a weak executive, no national power of taxation, a lack of standard currency, and voting by state—flaws that would eventually lead to its failure.
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No standard currency
The Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States, was approved by the Second Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and established a "league of friendship" for the 13 sovereign and independent states.
One of the weaknesses of the 1777 Constitution was the lack of a standard currency. Each state had its own money system, which made trade between states and other countries extremely difficult. The central government and the states each had separate currencies, which created a fragmented monetary system that hindered economic growth and stability.
The lack of a unified currency also impacted the government's ability to collect taxes effectively. The central government relied on voluntary efforts from the states to send tax money, and without a standard currency, this process was challenging and often inefficient. This resulted in a depleted treasury, affecting the government's ability to maintain an effective military and back its own paper currency.
The absence of a common currency also contributed to inflationary pressures. With paper money flooding the country, the purchasing power of the currency declined, leading to extraordinary inflation. This further exacerbated the economic challenges faced by the central government and the states, pushing them to the brink of economic disaster.
Additionally, the lack of a standard currency made it difficult for the government to settle Revolutionary War-era debts. The central government and the states owed significant sums to European countries and investors, but the fragmented monetary system hindered their ability to address these financial obligations collectively.
The lack of a standard currency was a significant weakness in the 1777 Constitution, leading to economic instability, inefficient tax collection, inflation, and difficulties in addressing national debt. This issue ultimately contributed to the revision of the Articles of Confederation and the development of a more unified monetary system in the United States.
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States conducted their own foreign policies
The Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States, was adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777. It established a weak central government, leaving most of the power with the state governments. This weakness of the central government allowed states to conduct their own foreign policies.
The Articles formed a wartime confederation of states, with a very limited central government. The document made official some of the procedures used by Congress to conduct business. However, it was recognised that the Articles had limitations. One of the most significant weaknesses was the inability of the central government to enforce its power over foreign policy.
Technically, conducting foreign policy was the role of the central government. However, the Confederation government lacked the domestic and international powers and standing to effectively carry out this role. This meant that individual states were able to pursue their own foreign policies, often to the detriment of national unity and coherence.
The weakness of the central government in foreign policy had several negative consequences. Firstly, it made the country vulnerable to foreign intervention and manipulation. Without a strong central authority, the United States was at risk of being influenced and controlled by foreign powers. Additionally, the lack of a unified foreign policy made it difficult for the country to effectively negotiate and interact with other nations.
The inability of the central government to conduct foreign policy also contributed to economic problems. The central government lacked the authority to regulate commerce and standardise trade, which made it challenging to establish viable trade relationships with other countries. This, coupled with the lack of a common currency, further exacerbated economic issues.
In conclusion, the weakness of the central government established by the 1777 Constitution allowed states to conduct their own foreign policies. This had negative implications for national unity, economic stability, and the country's international standing, ultimately leading to calls for a stronger central government.
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States had separate voting systems
The Articles of Confederation, which served as the first constitution of the United States, was established on November 15, 1777. One of its weaknesses was the provision for voting by states, which meant that each state had one vote in Congress, rather than representation being based on population size. This gave smaller states disproportionate influence in decision-making.
The Articles of Confederation also lacked a standard currency, with the central government and states using separate money systems. This made trade between states and other countries challenging and contributed to economic instability.
The voting by states provision, combined with a weak central government, limited the effectiveness of the Articles of Confederation in settling disputes between states. The central government lacked the authority to regulate commerce, making it difficult to standardise trade policies and protect American interests in foreign trade.
Additionally, the weak central government struggled to address economic issues, such as war pensions and taxation. The lack of a national power of taxation meant that Congress was unable to raise funds effectively, and states often failed to comply with Congress's suggestions for addressing the national debt.
The Articles of Confederation's state-by-state voting structure contributed to delays in decision-making and ratification processes. Unanimous approval from all states was required, and smaller states could exert significant influence by withholding their support until their specific demands were met. This dynamic often resulted in protracted negotiations and hindered the timely implementation of policies and amendments.
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Congress lacked authority
The Articles of Confederation, also known as the United States' first constitution, was adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777. The document, which established a weak central government, outlined a Congress with representation not based on population – each state would have one vote in Congress.
One of the weaknesses of the 1777 Constitution was the lack of authority of Congress. The central government lacked enforcement powers and was unable to pass or enforce laws that individual states found counter to their interests. This meant that the central government could not effectively regulate trade or conduct foreign policy.
For example, the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which ended the American War of Independence, included provisions that were unpopular with many states and blocked their enforcement. The British refusal to vacate military forts in US territory and the flooding of US markets with British goods to the detriment of American importers and manufacturers were consequences of the Confederation Congress's lack of authority.
The central government also lacked the power to settle Revolutionary War-era debts and states' attempts to impose import duties on goods from elsewhere further hampered intrastate trade.
Additionally, the legislative or executive authority of a state in controversy with another state could petition Congress for a hearing. However, if the states could not agree on the appointment of commissioners or judges to constitute a court for hearing and determining the matter, Congress would name individuals from each state, and a lottery would be held to select the final panel. This process often resulted in deadlock along sectional lines between the North and South.
The lack of authority of Congress under the 1777 Constitution led to disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade that threatened to tear the country apart. It also made the United States economically vulnerable, as the central government lacked the power to tax or make trade between the states and other countries viable.
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Frequently asked questions
The 1777 Constitution—also known as the Georgia Constitution—had a unicameral legislature, meaning the legislative branch held more power than the other branches, which could lead to an unstable government.
Yes, the federal government was too weak to enforce laws and needed approval from all 13 states before it could implement new regulations.
No, despite having many strengths, the 1777 Constitution only lasted 12 years.
Yes, the Continental Congress had borrowed money to fight the Revolutionary War and was unable to repay its debts.
