Articles of Confederation
Was it a good or bad idea?
Advantages
- Provided a unified Government
- Created a legislature allowing each state to have a vote
- Had the ability to deal with foreign countries on behalf of the states
- Created an army to protect the people
- Gave the states a lot of freedom
Disadvantages
- Were not able to carry out laws that would better the society
- Depended too much on the say of the people when making laws
- Caused the states economy to suffer economically
- Did not provide a judicial of executive branch
- Were unable to explain laws, enforce laws, or decide if laws were Constitutional
Why did the Articles have such a weak central government?
The Second Continental Congress created the Articles of Confederation, the first written constitution of the United states, during the Revolutionary War to give the colonies a sense of a unified government. The Articles officially declared the U.S. as a sovereign of 13 states, each of which had one vote in regards to congress decisions. This document provided a weak central government because the colonies wanted to be sure that no central institution would take their power again.