HY 357 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Bicameralism, Connecticut Compromise
6 Jun 2018
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The Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederationwere adopted by the Second Continental Congress on
November 15, 1777, but did not become effective until March 1, 1781, when they were
finally approved by all 13 states. Under the Articles, the national government consisted
of a unicameral (one-house) legislature (often called the Confederation Congress);
there was no national executive or judiciary. Delegates to Congress were appointed by
the state legislatures, and each state had one vote. Congress had the authority to
declare war, develop foreign policy, coin money, regulate Native American affairs in the
territories, run the post office, borrow money, and appoint army and navy officers. Quite
significantly, however, all powers not specifically delegated to Congress belonged to the
states.
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Congress did not have the direct power to tax or to regulate interstate and foreign trade.
It could only ask the states for money with no means to compel payment, and the states
had the right to impose their own duties on imports, which caused havoc with
commerce. Congress had no authority to raise an army on its own and had to
requisition troops from the states. All major policy issues ڐ war and peace, treaties, the
appropriation of funds ڐ required the approval of nine states. The Articles reflected the
nation's concern about executive power; however, the lack of an executive meant there
was no effective leadership. A unanimous vote of the states, acting through their
legislatures, was necessary to amend the Articles.
Calls to strengthen the national government
The need for a stronger national government was aired by the representatives of five
states, including Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, at the Annapolis
Convention (September 1786). The inability of Congress to deal with Shay's
Rebellion(winter of 1786ڏ1787), a revolt of debtor farmers in western Massachusetts,
made the shortcomings of the Articles clear. In February 1787, Congress agreed to hold
another meeting "for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of
Confederation."
The Constitutional Convention
Fifty-five delegates from 12 states (Rhode Island did not participate) met in Philadelphia in May
1787. While authorized only to "revise" the Articles of Confederation, the participants moved
quickly to develop a new structure for the government.
The Virginia Plan
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