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Articles Of Confederation Analysis

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The Articles of Confederation significantly challenged the western expansion, foreign relations, and debt, as well as failed some needs of the new country (Schultz, 2009). Many Americans continued to pursue land in the west relentlessly. They slowly began populating areas that had charters in the west; thus, resulting in a jealousy and seemingly creating a competition for states with no claims to the western land. The Articles prevented the federal government from forcing states to cede their land to them, despite the potential benefits it may have provided for the new nation. Moreover, Congress established the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, which formed territorial governments in the Great Lakes region and laid out a plan for future western development. The Ordinance created laws recognizing then a territory could elect a legislature and have representation in Congress, as well as when it could become an official state with …show more content…

Spain propositioned America with access to the Spanish West Indies, but eliminate access to the Mississippi River. A Congressional vote infuriated the South, because in a 7 to 2 vote, the North had voted for this proposition. However, the South would have been the ones hurt because the Mississippi River was their economical trade routes. Eventually, Spain allowed access to the Mississippi, but at a higher cost. Similarly to the issue with safeguarding the borders, was the issue with Mediterranean pirates. Since the United States could not afford to maintain a strong army or navy the American trade ships were at risk for attacks by the pirates. Equally important, but an all-encompassing problem was the debt of the new nation. Debtors wanted to be repaid, the army, rightfully so, became angered by the government’s inability to pay the soldiers monies owed, and inflation resulted in farmers’ helplessness to adapt to a new life which they were

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