Page 86 - Beers With Our Founding Fathers

Beers with our Founding Fathers

The Articles also provided for the courts, including an admiralty

court and the settlement of disputes between the states by the
Congress. Each state would remain sovereign, free and self-

governing. Of the states, the Articles provided free movement in
and between the states, recognition of court decisions in and

between the states. Like the preceding colonial governments – the
First and Second Continental Congresses, the new Congress was still

unable to levy taxes or regulate commerce among the states. This
would later be an issue in the payment of war debts to foreign

countries, as well as trade and commerce between the states, as
well as between the states and foreign countries.

For matters of serious consideration – declaring war, ratifying
treaties, and monetary regulation, the affirmation of nine of the

thirteen states would be required (approximately three-quarters);
for all other less serious matters a simple majority of seven states

was required. However, to amend the Articles, a unanimous vote of
the thirteen colonies would be required – and proved to be one of

the issues resulting in the demise of the Articles. In addition, the
Articles placed responsibilities on the central government of

Congress, while placing the authority with the states. Bearing the
responsibility without the means of enforcement was counter-

productive. In 1781 and 1786, attempts to fix the persistent
problems of the Articles were to no avail. At the Constitutional

Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia, the Articles were voided and

work toward a new governing document would begin. The drafting
of a new constitution would follow, as would strong debate. Two
groups would emerge as the leaders of the debate – the Federalists,

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