Mariama Diallo
The Articles of Confederation established the
first system of government, first ratified in 1777 and again in 1781. The
period between 1783 & 1789 the government was organized according to the
Articles of Confederation. Notably, this system of government had no president,
there was a Congress of the Confederation but there was only one branch or
house, instead of two, and there was no supreme court. The 13 states which were
really more like separate countries at this point and had very broad powers,
maintained their own state militias, and in many cases even printed their own
money and came up with their own rules on trade. The general consensus on this
period of time was that the government was weak and ineffective and as a result
of this conflict and disorder was increasing within the states and even between
the states.
Although America emerged as an independent country after the
Articles of confederation (1777 & 1781), the Union was still not perfect.
With no president and a strong central government, most states (countries) were
still not willing to concede powers. So the Union was very loose with no clear
way of enforcing even the most basic rules. This period was marred by many
contradictions which pushed the founding fathers to contemplate new laws in
order to form a more perfect union.
This situation gave way to the 1787 convention which brought
us the Federal Government which was limited in scope but independent of and
superior to the states within its assigned role to be able to tax and equipped
with both Executive and Judicial branches as well as a two house legislature
with the separation of powers (executive, judiciary and legislative branch).
It restored economic and political stability of the colonial era and strengthened the federal government's powers of
defense and taxation, still in effect today.
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