Question

Why did colonists feel the Articles of Confederation were necessary even though the Declaration of Independence was already written? The Declaration of Independence outlined a system of government but did not specify how much power that government could have. The Declaration of Independence determined individual rights but did not discuss how those rights influenced others. The Declaration of Independence called for a federal system of government but did not plan for the role of individual states. The Declaration of Independence outlined a relationship between individuals and the government but did not detail the power and control of that government.

Answer 1

The Articles of Confederation were necessary as they established a formal government structure after the Declaration of Independence, which was mainly a symbolic document of autonomy without detailed governance mechanisms. The Articles' purpose was to create a federal government with limited powers to avoid tyranny, but their weaknesses led to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution for a stronger federal system.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Declaration of Independence was a symbolic statement of autonomy but lacked practical guidelines for governance. After declaring independence in 1776, the United States needed a structured system that specified governmental powers and functions.

The Articles of Confederation became necessary as they offered a more concrete form of government, albeit with limited powers to prevent the kind of tyranny experienced under British rule. This was a response to colonists' fears of a strong central authority, similar to what they endured from the British monarchy.

The Articles of Confederation established a national legislature and granted the government the ability to declare war, coin money, and manage foreign affairs, but it deliberately restricted the power to tax, regulate commerce, or enforce laws, to ensure individual states retained significant autonomy.

However, these limitations resulted in difficulties, as the government struggled to pay debts and maintain order, culminating in issues like Shays's Rebellion. To address these challenges, the Constitutional Convention in 1787 created a stronger federal system laid out in the U.S. Constitution, emphasizing a balance of powers between the national authority and the states.