New Jersey and theMaking of The Constitution

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New Jersey During the Critical Period

New Jersey under the Articles of Confederation

    After the war was over, the focus of all the states was no longer winning the war but learning to exist as a confederation under the the direction of the United States first constitution, the Articles of Confederation.  In response to the opression many colonists felt they were subject to under the powerful English government, the creators of the Articles set out to create a conferation of friendly states. Almost all the states, including New Jersey, stressed the importance of keeping power in the hands of the states and away from the national government.

    Under the Articles the congress was "judge, jury, and the executioner."  The catch was the congress had no real power to enforce any of its decisions, laws, or requests.  Differences between states arose during this time and the national government could do nothing to solve the problem. The repair and operational costs of the Sandy Hook Lighthouse is but one example of how the Congress and the Articles were failing the new nation.

The Sandy HookLighthouse Question

    The practically powerless national government was causing problems for the nation on the whole not to mention individual states.  Some states like New York were prospering under the new national government.  However, other states were not experiencing such prosperity. New Jersey was involved in many of the tariff battles that were occuring between several states.  These battles over interstate commerce sparked fierce political debate between the states and created noticable disunity of the new nation.  The battle also demonstrated the weakness of the national congress and the Articles.  Edmund Randolph, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton called for a convention in Annapolis to discuss possible solutions to the gradually weakening nation.

AnnapolisConvention