CHAPTER TWo • FoRGiNG A NEW GovERNmENT: THE CoNsTiTuTioN 29
coinage and weights and measures. But it lacked an independent source of revenue and
the necessary executive machinery to enforce its decisions throughout the land. Article II
of the Articles of Confederation guaranteed that each state would retain its sovereignty.
Table 2–1 below summarizes the powers—and the lack of powers—of Congress under the
Articles of Confederation.Accomplishments under the Articles. The new government had some accomplish-
ments during its eight years of existence under the Articles of Confederation. Certain
states’ claims to western lands were settled. Maryland had objected to the claims of the
Carolinas, Connecticut, Georgia, Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia. It was only
after these states consented to give up their land claims to the United States as a whole
that Maryland signed the Articles of Confederation. Another accomplishment under the
Articles was the passage of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, which established a basic
pattern of government for new territories north of the Ohio River. All in all, the Articles
represented the first real pooling of resources by the American states.Weaknesses of the Articles. In spite of these accomplishments, the Articles of
Confederation had many defects. Although Congress had the legal right to declare war
and to conduct foreign policy, it did not have the right to demand revenues from the
states. It could only ask for them. Additionally, the actions of Congress required the con-
sent of nine states. Any amendments to the Articles required the unanimous consent of
the congress and confirmation by every state legislature. Furthermore, the Articles did not
create a national system of courts.
Basically, the functioning of the government under the Articles depended on the
goodwill of the states. Article III simply established a “league of friendship” among the
states—no national government was intended.
Probably the most fundamental weakness of the Articles, and the most basic cause
of their eventual replacement by the Constitution, was the lack of power to raise funds
for the militia. The Articles contained no language giving Congress coercive power to raise
revenue (by levying taxes) to provide adequate support for the military forces controlled byTABlE 2–1: Powers of the Congress of the Confederation
Congress had power to Congress Lacked power to
◾ Declare war and make peace.
◾ Enter into treaties and alliances.
◾ Establish and control armed forces.
◾ Requisition men and funds from states.
◾ Regulate coinage.
◾ Borrow funds and issue bills of credit.
◾ Fix uniform standards of weight and
measurement.
◾ Create admiralty courts.
◾ Create a postal system.
◾ Regulate Indian affairs.
◾ Guarantee citizens of each state the rights and
privileges of citizens in the several states when
in another state.
◾ Adjudicate disputes between states on state
petition.◾ Provide for effective treaties and control
foreign relations. It could not compel states to
respect treaties.
◾ Compel states to meet military quotas. It could
not draft soldiers.
◾ Regulate interstate and foreign commerce. It left
each state free to tax imports from other states.
◾ Collect taxes directly from the people. It had to
rely on states to collect and forward taxes.
◾ Compel states to pay their share of
government costs.
◾ Provide and maintain a sound monetary
system or issue paper money. This was left
up to the states, and paper currencies in
circulation differed tremendously in purchasing
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