The Articles of Confederation
Its Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages of the Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was a reliable document that influenced the writing of our Constitution. The Articles:
- set up a legislature (each state had one vote)
- included an army for the states
- could deal with foreign countries
- held government together
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
While the Articles of Confederation held the government together, it was a thin bond that could easily fall apart. The Articles:
- couldn't enforce laws
- couldn't tax
- didn't have an executive nor a judicial branch
- needed 9/13 states' approvals to pass a law
- needed all 13 states' approval to amend a law
- caused states to suffer economically
Why did the writers of the Articles of Confederation want a weak central government?
I believe the writers of the Articles of Confederation were afraid of having a strong government that would not protect the rights of its citizens, like Britain.