What Are The Limitations Of The Articles Of Confederation Dbq

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The Articles of Confederation was the first written constitution of the United States and was a written agreement ratified in 1781 by the thirteen original states. It went to effect in 1781. The Article clearly declared the new national government to be a “perpetual union”. However, the Article of Confederation failed because of some limitations, which concerned about power, tax, currency, and executive branches. The limitation was a weakness of the national government. The leaders of the United States feared a powerful the central government, so they did not give central government enough powers. Secondly, “it could coin money, but lack power to levy taxes on regulating commerce” (Give me Liberty, 240). The Article of Confederation gave Congress no power to tax or regulate commerce among the states. Congress did not have the power to place tariffs on foreign good causing economic clutter, and hurting the American businesses because they could not compete with cheaper the British goods. In addition, the Articles of Confederation provided no common currency. “Congress had no real financial resources” (Give me liberty, 240). States could not be forced to contribute funds. If people were not inability to tax, the government could not reliably raise revenue to fund any government operations or even defense or navy. Moreover, the Articles of …show more content…

For example, Congress had the power to raise taxes, and also had the power to make laws necessary and proper to enact enumerated powers. In addition, the U.S. constitution divided powers between national and state government. The system of “Check and balance” was created. It has three branches balances of each state out senate including legislative, executive, and judicial that could limit the power of the others. It was a way to separate powers, so no one branch became too powerful. Those were known as “separation of

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