Throughout the 1780s Congress attempted to amend the Articles of Confederation. Some of these efforts tried to empower Congress by temporary grants of power to tax or to regulate commerce. This approach appeased those who were fearful of an over-powering, consolidated government. However, even these failed to gain the necessary approval of all thirteen state legislatures. The documents below illustrate attempts to revise the Articles of Confederation. Many of these same issues would resurface later in the Constitutional Convention.
Attempts within Congress to Amend the Articles of Confederation
- Grant of Power to Collect Import Duties, 3 February 1781
- Amendment to Give Congress Coercive Power over the States and Their Citizens, 16 March 1781
- Committee Report on Carrying the Confederation Into Effect and on Additional Powers Needed by Congress, 22 August 1781
- Grant of Temporary Power to Collect Import Duties and Request for Supplementary Funds, 18 April 1783
- Amendment to Share Expenses According to Population, 18 April 1783
- Grant of Temporary Power to Regulate Commerce, 30 April 1784
- Amendment to Grant Commercial Powers to Congress, 28 March 1785
- Amendments to the Articles of Confederation Proposed by a Grand Committee of Congress, 7 August 1786
Commentary on the Problems under the Articles of Confederation
- William Barton: On the Propriety of Investing Congress with Power to Regulate the Trade of the Unites States, American Museum, January 1787
- Benjamin Rush: Address to the People of the United States, American Museum, January 1787
- James Madison: Vices of the Political System of the United States, April 1787
- Harrington: To the Freemen of the United States, Pennsylvania Gazette, 30 May 1787