The Importance of a National Military

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 90 views

Introduction

The Articles of Confederation, adopted in 1781, was the first attempt at a unified government in the United States. However, it was plagued by several weaknesses, one of which was the lack of a national military. This article will explore the significance of a national military and how its absence affected the government under the Articles of Confederation.

The Importance of a National Military

A national military is a crucial component of any government, providing the means to defend the country against external threats and maintain internal order. In the context of the Articles of Confederation, the absence of a national military was a significant weakness. Without a unified military, the individual states were left to fend for themselves, leading to a lack of coordination and cooperation in matters of defense.

The Legislative Branch: A National Military Under the Articles of Confederation

The legislative branch, composed of the Continental Congress, was responsible for making laws and governing the country. However, the Articles of Confederation did not provide for a national military, leaving the states to maintain their own militias. This created a power vacuum, as the Continental Congress lacked the authority to raise and command a national army.

The Judicial Branch: A National Military Under the Articles of Confederation

The judicial branch, composed of the Supreme Court, was responsible for interpreting the laws and resolving disputes. However, the Articles of Confederation did not provide for a national military, and the Supreme Court did not have the authority to enforce its decisions in matters of national defense.

The Administrative Branch: A National Military Under the Articles of Confederation

The administrative branch, composed of the executive department, was responsible for implementing the laws and governing the country. However, the Articles of Confederation did not provide for a national military, and the executive department lacked the authority to raise and command a national army.

The Economic Impact of a National Military Under the Articles of Confederation

The absence of a national military had significant economic implications. Without a unified military, the individual states were left to bear the costs of maintaining their own militias, leading to a lack of coordination and cooperation in matters of defense. This created a power vacuum, as the Continental Congress lacked the authority to raise and command a national army.

The Economic Impact of a National Military Under the Articles of Confederation: A Case Study

The economic impact of a national military under the Articles of Confederation can be seen in the example of the Whiskey Rebellion. In 1794, a tax on whiskey was imposed by the federal government, leading to a rebellion in western Pennsylvania. The federal government, led by President George Washington, was forced to send in troops to quell the rebellion. This event highlighted the need for a national military, as the individual states were unable to maintain order and defend the country against external threats.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the absence of a national military under the Articles of Confederation was a significant weakness in the administrative branch of government. The lack of a unified military created a power vacuum, as the Continental Congress lacked the authority to raise and command a national army. This had significant economic implications, as the individual states were left to bear the costs of maintaining their own militias. The economic impact of a national military under the Articles of Confederation can be seen in the example of the Whiskey Rebellion, highlighting the need for a national military to defend the country against external threats and maintain internal order.

Recommendations

Based on the analysis of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, the following recommendations can be made:

A national military should be established to provide the means to defend the country against external threats and maintain internal order.
The Continental Congress should be given the authority to raise and command a national army, providing a unified military force to defend the country.
The individual states should be encouraged to cooperate and coordinate their efforts in matters of defense, rather than maintaining their own militias.

References

The Articles of Confederation. (1781). Retrieved from https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/articles-of-confederation
The Whiskey Rebellion. (1794). Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/whiskey-rebellion
The Federalist Papers. (1788). Retrieved from https://www.constitution.org/fed/federa01.htm

Glossary

National Military: A unified military force that is responsible for defending the country against external threats and maintaining internal order.
Continental Congress: The legislative branch of the government under the Articles of Confederation, responsible for making laws and governing the country.
Supreme Court: The judicial branch of the government, responsible for interpreting the laws and resolving disputes.
Executive Department: The administrative branch of the government, responsible for implementing the laws and governing the country.
Whiskey Rebellion: A tax on whiskey imposed by the federal government in 1794, leading to a rebellion in western Pennsylvania.
The Weakness of the Articles of Confederation: A National Military Under the Articles of Confederation ===========================================================

Q&A: The Weakness of the Articles of Confederation

Q: What was the main weakness of the Articles of Confederation? A: The main weakness of the Articles of Confederation was the lack of a national military. Without a unified military, the individual states were left to fend for themselves, leading to a lack of coordination and cooperation in matters of defense.

Q: Why was a national military important under the Articles of Confederation? A: A national military was important under the Articles of Confederation because it provided the means to defend the country against external threats and maintain internal order. Without a unified military, the individual states were left to bear the costs of maintaining their own militias, leading to a lack of coordination and cooperation in matters of defense.

Q: What was the role of the Continental Congress in the Articles of Confederation? A: The Continental Congress was the legislative branch of the government under the Articles of Confederation, responsible for making laws and governing the country. However, the Articles of Confederation did not provide for a national military, leaving the states to maintain their own militias.

Q: What was the significance of the Whiskey Rebellion? A: The Whiskey Rebellion was a tax on whiskey imposed by the federal government in 1794, leading to a rebellion in western Pennsylvania. The event highlighted the need for a national military, as the individual states were unable to maintain order and defend the country against external threats.

Q: What were the economic implications of a national military under the Articles of Confederation? A: The economic implications of a national military under the Articles of Confederation were significant. Without a unified military, the individual states were left to bear the costs of maintaining their own militias, leading to a lack of coordination and cooperation in matters of defense.

Q: What were the recommendations for addressing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? A: The recommendations for addressing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation included:

Establishing a national military to provide the means to defend the country against external threats and maintain internal order.
Giving the Continental Congress the authority to raise and command a national army, providing a unified military force to defend the country.
Encouraging the individual states to cooperate and coordinate their efforts in matters of defense, rather than maintaining their own militias.

Q: What were the key takeaways from the analysis of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? A: The key takeaways from the analysis of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation were:

The lack of a national military was a significant weakness in the administrative branch of government.
The absence of a unified military created a power vacuum, as the Continental Congress lacked the authority to raise and command a national army.
The economic implications of a national military under the Articles of Confederation were significant, with the individual states bearing the costs of maintaining their own militias.

Q: What were the references used in the analysis of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? A: The references used in the analysis of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation included:

The Articles of Confederation. (1781). Retrieved from https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/articles-of-confederation
The Whiskey Rebellion. (1794). Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/whiskey-rebellion
The Federalist Papers. (1788). Retrieved from https://www.constitution.org/fed/federa01.htm

Glossary

National Military: A unified military force that is responsible for defending the country against external threats and maintaining internal order.
Continental Congress: The legislative branch of the government under the Articles of Confederation, responsible for making laws and governing the country.
Supreme Court: The judicial branch of the government, responsible for interpreting the laws and resolving disputes.
Executive Department: The administrative branch of the government, responsible for implementing the laws and governing the country.
Whiskey Rebellion: A tax on whiskey imposed by the federal government in 1794, leading to a rebellion in western Pennsylvania.