Dbq for Effectiveness of Articles of Confederation

The Continental Congress, created in the midst of the revolutionary war, was a group of delegates from the thirteen colonies that acted as a governing body. There have been two Continental congresses, each accomplishing certain feats such as the creation of the declaration of independence by the second continental congress. In 1781, they would create the Articles of Confederation which would act as the nation’s first official constitution. The Articles of Confederation was effective from 1781 and ended in 1789, in the meantime setting the standard for how the government would run in America. Like with any other new government, there were people who were opposed to the Articles of Confederation or the Articles of Confusion as they were called at one point of time. By evaluating the Articles of Confederation, one may ponder about whether it did or did not help to establish an efficient form government.

In assessing whether the articles were effective or not, there is evidence that can help prove that it was effective. After the revolutionary war, the British were still stationed in America despite the Treaty of Paris. Along with remaining in America, England vehemently opposed trade with its former colonies as a result of the war. Still, England never actually started any violent attacks against America and this may have happened due to the instruction of John Jay given to the US Minister to England (Document D). Jay will eventually cave into foreign pressures with Spain and he tried to ratify the Jay-Gardoqui Treaty which hand over the rights to the Mississippi to Spain (Document F). Later in 1787, the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, one of the greatest positives to come under the Articles of Confederation, will affect the colonies (Document E). The intent of the ordinance was to create a northwest territory which would the first organized territory that America would gain, since the territory they currently had was won from the British. It was a positive in the sense that the territorial disputes that arose during the ordinance were resolved peacefully and slavery was also abolished within that area.

Besides social and political support, the articles partially were effective in creating a central military force. In response to Shays’ rebellion, which occurred due to farmers wanting change, Massachusetts was forced to send out their highest militia to suppress the rebellion which was successful. It was only partially successful in the sense that Massachusetts had to send out their best troops for a small rebellion which would have been crushed by neighboring aid, but it turned out that the troops later rallied by congress were not even needed to suppress the rebellion (Document G). These events are small pieces of evidence that support the legitimacy of the articles being effective, unlike the large evidence that supports that it was not as effective as has been portrayed to be.

After the Revolutionary War, Britain had separated