Confederation Congress

Definition

The Confederation Congress was the governing body of the United States from 1781 to 1789, operating under the Articles of Confederation. It was characterized by its limited powers, with authority primarily over foreign affairs, military matters, and certain economic issues, but lacking the ability to levy taxes or regulate trade effectively. This led to significant challenges in governance and highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Confederation Congress consisted of delegates from each state, but each state had only one vote regardless of size or population, leading to disproportionate representation.
2. It faced significant challenges in raising revenue as it could not impose taxes; it relied on voluntary contributions from states, which were often not fulfilled.
3. The Congress successfully negotiated the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which ended the Revolutionary War and recognized American independence.
4. Its inability to address interstate trade disputes and economic instability contributed to events like Shays' Rebellion, demonstrating its weakness.
5. The shortcomings of the Confederation Congress ultimately led to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, where a new constitution was drafted to create a stronger federal government.

Review Questions

• How did the limitations of the Confederation Congress affect its ability to govern effectively?
  • The limitations of the Confederation Congress significantly hindered its governance because it lacked key powers such as the ability to levy taxes or regulate interstate commerce. Without these powers, it struggled to raise revenue for military and governmental needs and could not effectively resolve economic conflicts among states. This resulted in a weakened national government that could not respond adequately to crises like Shays' Rebellion, highlighting its ineffectiveness.
• What role did the Confederation Congress play in foreign affairs during its tenure, and how did this reflect its strengths and weaknesses?
  • The Confederation Congress played a crucial role in foreign affairs by negotiating treaties and managing relationships with other nations, notably achieving recognition of American independence through the Treaty of Paris in 1783. However, while it demonstrated some strength in diplomacy, the Congress's overall inability to enforce treaties or ensure compliance from states reflected its weaknesses. The lack of a national army and financial resources made it difficult to defend against external threats or assert American interests abroad.
• Evaluate how Shays' Rebellion illustrated the critical weaknesses of the Confederation Congress and contributed to calls for a new constitutional framework.
  • Shays' Rebellion illustrated the critical weaknesses of the Confederation Congress by showcasing its inability to address economic distress and maintain order among its citizens. The uprising revealed how ineffective the national government was at responding to local grievances related to taxation and debt enforcement. In turn, this unrest heightened awareness among leaders about the need for a stronger central government, ultimately leading to the Constitutional Convention where delegates sought to replace the Articles of Confederation with a new constitution that provided greater federal authority.

Related terms

Articles of Confederation:

The first written constitution of the United States, ratified in 1781, which established a decentralized government with limited powers and no executive branch.

Shays' Rebellion:

An armed uprising in 1786-1787 by Massachusetts farmers protesting economic injustices and the inability of the Confederation Congress to address their grievances.

Federalism:

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and individual states, contrasting with the unitary system of government under the Confederation Congress.