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Analyze How The Principles Embodied In The Articles Of Confederation Dbq

Decent Essays

Unit 3-4 Essay Exam
Essay B
Analyze how the ideas and experiences of the revolutionary era influenced the principles embodied in the Articles of Confederation.

Essay B
Ideas -
No Representation
People’s rights
Experiences -
Tyrannical experiences
Principles
State Sovereignty
Equal Representation

Bad ideas + Bad Experiences = Good Principles (with some problems)

Although the Articles of Confederation was an unsuccessful document, the government formed by the Articles was much better than the tyranny of King George III. The ideas and experiences of the revolutionary era, 1764 - 1789, influenced the decisions made in the Articles of Confederation. The lack of representation, violations against people’s rights, and need for state …show more content…

The idea that colonists should have fair rights was revolutionized in the Articles of Confederation. When the first colonies were settled, the monarchy of Great Britain gave charters to groups of people to set up their own government with their own rights. After the French and Indian War, the British government had war debt. As a result, the British taxed the colonists ignoring the rights chartered to them. The British abolished self-government and took control of all the colonies. Making a colonist pay a tax for a valid reason is fine, but only when the colonist’s rights would not be violated. The Articles of Confederation was influenced by insuring each citizen's rights. All the white property owning, tax paying men could vote their state officials. In the Northwest Ordinance,the federal government allowed states to be created when 60,000 free men settled in the territory. After the territory had enough occupants, the government kept their promise by allowing the territory to become a state. Although the state had much more power, people could still fight back. For example, during the depression, the Shay’s Rebellion was a dispute between indebted farmers and the state court. However, the state courts had to pass laws to regulate such rebellions. They abolished a fair trial and grouped gatherings. They deprived some of the colonists of their basic rights. Bad ideas implemented by the British government in the American Revolution may have changed at first, but as the government matured, unfair laws were passed. By viewing the situation of the Shay’s Rebellion, the revolutionary period did not just influence the Articles of Confederation in good

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