Why did the Nationalists oppose the Articles of Confederation?

Answer 1

The nationalists opposed the Articles of Confederation because it gave too much power to ordinary people who were usually less educated. History had shown that people weren't naturally wise enough to handle so much power over their own affairs. Attempts to create a republic government in places in Europe had ended in chaos. This also happened to the Roman Republic over 1800 years ago. They couldn't let the US fall into political chaos because it was a model for the rest of the world. The nationalists were also more concerned with keeping order than increasing freedom. There was a large debt after the American Revolution, so states put heavy taxes on goods traveling to other states, which therefore angered people and caused economic chaos. Critics of the Articles thought these problems occurred because Americans had too much power in their state legislatures.

Another main reason the Nationalists were against the Articles of Confederation was that they thought it produced a weak National government, and they supported a strong one. People were getting out of hand under the Articles (ex. Shay's Rebellion) and they liked to challenged authority. Nationalists wanted to keep control of this behavior. A weak government wouldn't get respect from the world as well.

Answer 2

The federalists on the whole, supported a stronger national government as opposed to a loose consortium of states. The articles of confederation, which was in effect prior to the constitution's adoption in 1789, provided a weak central government that could tax its citizens but couldn't enforce those taxes. Also each state voted as a single body and could have anywhere between two and seven representatives in order to decide how to cast their vote as the state. This proved to disastrous. The USA under the articles almost defaulted on loans to France and Spain made to the US during the revolutionary war. Constant friction between the states almost broke out into a number of civil wars. Even Thomas Jefferson who was one of the strongest supporters of state's rights and a weak national government came to the conclusion that is the USA was going to last then the articles of confederation couldn't last. If the question is why did the federalists initially oppose the articles, then it's because they wanted a stronger central government than the articles provided. If the question is why did they oppose the articles at the time of the writing of the constitution, then it's important to note they were the only one. By the end, few people, if any wanted to maintain the articles.

Answer 3

Support came from people that thought the United States was trying to take away state's rights. Some people of course opposed it. People said it was unfair, we should all be equal.

Answer 4

There are people who want to replace the Articles of Confederation because they feel that they will have a stronger national government.

Answer 5

They did not have sufficient needs