Primary Purpose of the Articles of Confederation?

Question

I know that if favored states right and weakened the central government but was that the main purpose of it?

Answer 1

The Articles of Confederation accomplished exactly what they were meant to do, that is, represent 13 separate countries as a whole in the war against the British, and to be recognized as that whole in international relations. These 13 separate countries were recognized as such in the 1883 Treaty of Peace between Great Britain and these various “States” in Article one where each individual State was named and recognized as Free, Independent, and Sovereign. A strong central government was not one of the goals of the Articles of Confederation.

With peace a different set of incentives for the use of a central government came to the fore and not everyone viewed the existence of such a government in the same manner. Some individuals (such as Patrick Henry) never supported a general government any stronger than that created in the Articles of Confederation. Others (such as Alexander Hamilton) wanted a new, very strong general government. The debates leading to the convention, the debates within the convention, and the debates concerning ratification, all reflect this diversity of view concerning a general government.

Even with ratification of the Constitution there was little desire for a strong general government. The general government was a creation of the States through the delegated powers of the written Constitution and these powers (or lack thereof) limited the general government in the mind of Founders. If the Founders could have seen what the general government would become (our current federal government) they never would have ratified the Constitution.

There are many misconceptions about the Articles of Confederation. For example, in Article II it states: “Each State retains its Sovereignty, Freedom and Independence, and every power, jurisdiction and right which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to the United States in Congress assembled.”

From this many people have concluded that the States had independent freedom of action in all matters and that is not true. It is the last words of Article II which are relevant here; “which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to the United States in Congress assembled “

This came to bear (for example) in Article VI with the following: “No State without the consent of the United States in Congress Assembled, shall send any embassy to, or receive any embassy from, or enter into any conference, agreement, alliance or treaty with any king, prince or State. . . . “ In other words, no member State could make treaty with any other country.

Again, the Articles of Confederation accomplished what they were initially intended to accomplish as a war time government.

Answer 2

Purpose Of Articles Of Confederation

Answer 3

Because the experience of overbearing British central authority was vivid in colonial minds, the drafters of the Articles deliberately established a confederation of sovereign states.

On paper, the Congress had power to regulate foreign affairs, war, and the postal service and to appoint military officers, control Indian affairs, borrow money, determine the value of coin, and issue bills of credit. In reality, however, the Articles gave the Congress no power to enforce its requests to the states for money or troops, and by the end of 1786 governmental effectiveness had broken down.

Nevertheless, some solid accomplishments had been achieved: certain state claims to western lands were settled, and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 established the fundamental pattern of evolving government in the territories north of the Ohio River. Equally important, the Confederation provided the new nation with instructive experience in self-government under a written document. In revealing their own weaknesses, the Articles paved the way for the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and the present form of U.S. government.

Answer 4

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The Articles of Confederation formed the first governing document of the United States of America. They combined the colonies of the American Revolutionary War into a loose confederation.

Answer 5

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Primary Purpose of the Articles of Confederation?
I know that if favored states right and weakened the central government but was that the main purpose of it?

Answer 6

It was the countries first Constitution, it spelled out what the government could and could not do and how the government would be organized. Basically no articles, no government.

Only problem was it organized the government in such a way that the government had no real power, so after a few years they replaced it with the US Constitution.