Did the Articles of Confederation Create an Effective Government?

Did the Articles of Confederation Create an Effective Government?

It has been said, "From 1781 to 1789 the Articles of Confederation provided the United States with an effective government." I, however, have great reason to disagree with this statement. While the Articles of Confederation did make a giant leap in the right direction as far as an effective American government goes, it was no where near what was necessary for that time period. The nation was in an economic slump after the war and instead of helping the situation the Articles skated around the problem. This created frustration, not a solution.

The Articles of Confederation gave Congress the power to request funds but not to tax. This posed a problem for the $160 million the nation had shelled out for the Revolution against Great Britain. Congress needed money but had no way of getting it. In 1782, Robert Morris, the newly appointed superintendent of finance, proposed that Congress put a five-percent duty on all national imports. This duty was to help finance Congress' declining budget and to help aid the need for post-war debt payments. However, because Congress did not have the authority to demand this, all thirteen states had to comply with the bill before it was to be passed as law. It only took one state, Rhode Island to shoot it down. As seen in a letter from the Rhode Island assembly to Congress in late November of 1782, they refused to agree with the proposal because it kill Rhode Island's only source of income, trade. Also, "unknown and unaccountable" officers