Why the ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION Failed [APUSH Review]

Summary

The video explains how state and federal governments were organized after independence, why the Articles of Confederation proved ineffective, and how the resulting problems increased support for a stronger national government.

State Governments After Independence

• After declaring independence in 1776, each state drafted and ratified its own constitution. State governments had played an important role during the Revolution because the Continental Congress had little power.
• Virginia’s constitution, which included a bill of rights, served as a model for many states. Protected rights included freedom of the press, free elections, militias, and speedy trials.
• State constitutions commonly rejected aristocratic privilege, including titles of nobility.
• Voting was generally limited to white men who owned property. The presenter explains the rationale—that landowners had a stake in society—without endorsing it.
• Most states did little to abolish slavery. Vermont was an exception, and some states, including Pennsylvania, adopted gradual emancipation measures.
• State legislatures generally held more power than governors. Most legislatures were bicameral, reflecting a desire to distribute power and avoid the kind of executive authority associated with British rule.

The Articles of Confederation

• Drafted by the Continental Congress in 1777, the Articles were the first constitution of the United States.
• They created a national government but deliberately kept it weak, leaving most political power with the states.
• The federal government consisted of a single legislature, with no separate executive branch or federal court system.
• Congress could not directly tax the states, establish a national currency, or raise a national army. Major decisions could also be blocked by the requirement for unanimous state approval.

Achievement: The Northwest Ordinance

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 organized the country’s western territories. It reserved land for schools, prohibited slavery in the territory, and established a process by which territories could become states. The presenter describes it as one of the federal government’s most important achievements under the Articles.

Five Problems That Exposed the Articles’ Weaknesses

1. International trade

   • Britain restricted American trade with the British West Indies.
   • Spain blocked American ships from using the Mississippi River through Louisiana.
   • Pirates from North Africa attacked American merchant ships.
   • The federal government lacked the power—and a navy—to respond effectively.

2. Federal finances

   • Congress struggled to repay war debts because it could not levy taxes and had to request money from the states.
   • A 1782 proposal would have allowed Congress to collect a 5% tax on imports. Eleven states approved it, but Rhode Island and Virginia rejected it.
   • Because unanimity was required, the proposal failed, leaving Congress short of funds.

3. Interstate commerce

   • States competed for economic advantage and imposed tariffs that hindered trade among them.
   • Congress had no authority to resolve disputes over interstate commerce or coordinate a national economy.

4. Foreign relations and security

   • Britain continued to occupy forts on the western frontier and supplied weapons and goods to Indigenous groups, encouraging attacks on settlers.
   • The federal government could not effectively address the situation because Congress had no authority to raise an army.

5. Internal unrest: Shays’ Rebellion

   • Many Revolutionary War veterans remained unpaid and faced severe hardship.
   • In Massachusetts, farmers led by Daniel Shays attacked courthouses and a federal arsenal. The state militia suppressed the uprising.
   • The rebellion highlighted that the federal government could neither pay the veterans nor raise forces to respond. It also fueled fears of further unrest and strengthened the case for replacing the Articles with a new constitution.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Heimler’s History presenter/narrator: The primary speaker, providing the historical explanation and comedic asides.
• Brief comedic interjections or acted voices: Appear in a few exchanges, but the subtitles do not identify them as separate speakers.