The Articles of Confederation created a government that had a weak central government.
With the second government created under the Constitution, how did the power of the federal
government increase? (Give three examples). As the federal government’s power increased, it
faced serious opposition. Using the three events listed below, describe and analyze the motives
and effectiveness of those opposed to the growing power of the national government:
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions, 1798-1799
Hartford Convention, 1814-1815
Nullification Crisis, 1832-1833
Answers
The Articles of Confederation established the first governmental structure unifying the 13 colonies that had fought in the American Revolution. In effect, this document created the structure for the confederation of these newly minted 13 states. After many attempts by several delegates to the Continental Congress, a draft by John Dickinson of Pennsylvania was the basis for the final document, which was adopted in 1777. The Articles went into effect on March 1, 1781, after all, 13 states had ratified them.
The Articles of Confederation lasted until March 4, 1789, when they were replaced by the U.S. Constitution. So, why did the Articles of Confederation fail after just eight years?
In response to widespread antipathy toward a strong central government, the Articles of Confederation kept national government weak and allowed for the states to be as independent as possible. But almost soon as the Articles took effect, problems with this approach became apparent.