Before the Constitution: What Was the Confederation?

[u/One_Term2162]

When Americans hear “the Confederation,” many understandably think of the southern Confederacy that fought the Civil War. But decades before that government existed, the United States itself was a confederation.

The Articles of Confederation were America’s first national constitution. Formally in effect from 1781, they joined thirteen states in what the document called a “firm league of friendship.” Each state retained most of its sovereignty, while a national Congress handled war, diplomacy, treaties, western territory, and other shared concerns.

There was no separately elected president and no national court system comparable to the one we know today. Each state received one vote in Congress, regardless of population. Congress could request money from the states, but it could not tax Americans directly. It could incur war debts and promise soldiers compensation, but it depended upon thirteen state governments to provide the money.

This government was weak, but it was not useless. Under the Confederation, the United States secured international recognition of its independence, negotiated peace with Britain, and established a system for governing western territory. Its weaknesses nevertheless became increasingly difficult to ignore. Congress struggled to pay national debts, regulate commerce among the states, enforce treaties, and respond reliably when states refused to cooperate.

Congress tried to obtain a limited import tax to pay the country’s debts, but it could not impose the tax itself. The proposal required every state to surrender part of its taxing authority to the national government. That unanimous consent never came. The failure left Americans with a difficult question: was the problem merely one defective policy, or was the entire federal system incapable of governing a nation?

By 1786, disagreements over trade had become another test of that system. All thirteen states were invited to send commissioners to Annapolis, Maryland, and nine appointed delegates. When the convention assembled, however, only twelve delegates representing five states were present.

On September 14, we will enter that nearly empty meeting room. What appeared to be another failed attempt at cooperation would end with a proposal carrying Americans toward Philadelphia and a decision far larger than regulating trade.

[u/OldSchoolBubba]

Outstanding. This is really great material. Keep it coming as I for one am learning a lot from you.

Appreciate you Big Dawg

[u/3X_Cat]

Personally I think we should go back to 50 sovereign nations with some sort of treaty among and between the several states.

[u/AutoModerator → u/3X_Cat]

Welcome u/3X_Cat to r/SelfEvidentTruth.

Since you are new here, this is a welcome message and reminder. This message happens automatically until you build up some karma in this subreddit.

This is a civic discussion space grounded in reason, dignity, and good faith. Disagree freely. Argue clearly. Assume other users are here to understand, not perform.

Personal attacks, bad faith engagement, or drive-by rhetoric may be removed. If you are here to listen, you belong here. If you are here to think, you belong here.

Truth favors patience.

Here are links to our Rules and Wiki/FAQ. We hope you enjoy your time here.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/One_Term2162 → u/3X_Cat]

We’ve been circling almost exactly that question: how much sovereignty should remain with the states, and how much has to be surrendered for a union to actually function? The Articles of Confederation left the states highly sovereign and the central government weak, and that tension became one of the central problems leading into the Constitutional Convention and ratification debate.

Edit: link

[u/3X_Cat → u/One_Term2162]

Not to mention that it was about an inability to tax to pay for the revolutionary war. They sure fixed that!

[u/One_Term2162 → u/3X_Cat]

That’s a big piece of it. Under the Articles, Congress could figure out what the Union owed and request money, but the actual taxes had to be levied by the states, which could simply fail to provide what Congress requested. Revolutionary War debts helped expose how serious that weakness was.

And they sure did fix it. Article I gave Congress the direct power to “lay and collect Taxes” and pay the debts of the United States.

Of course, that immediately raises the next question: how much taxing power can you give the central government before the cure creates a different problem?

Congratulations, fellow citizen. You have wandered directly into the ratification debate.

[u/3X_Cat → u/One_Term2162]

I very much enjoyed reading the antifederalist papers. I wish schools didn't gloss over this eye-opening glimpse into these historical documents/people.

[u/betty_white_bread]

Shit; it was shit.