The 1781 Impost Amendment is adopted

If the 1781 Congressional Impost amendment to the Articles of Confederation had somehow been able to overcome Rhode Island's obstinacy and pass, the Confederation Congress would then have had explicit power to collect taxes, if only a 5% duty on imports.

What sort of effects would this have on the power of Congress and the longevity of the AoC?
 

Jasen777

Donor
Rhode Island would be tough to bring on board, but it would apparently be possible since they agreed (IIRC) to the 1783 one, which New York torpedoed.

Was this the one where the states would appoint the collectors? And this just made it legal to do so, and they still had to pass a bill to actually do it?

Now potentially this helps solves one of the major problems of the AoC government. It could let them pay soldiers something close to what was promised, which would avoid a couple of embarrassing incidents. And it would help make the federal government a bit more credible in trade talks with foreign nations perhaps.

It would probably be enough to avert the constitutional convention (at least OTL's). But serious issues with the AoC remain and I don't know if it could last indefinitely. It would be an interesting timeline though where the U.S. limped along on an only slightly modified AoC.
 

Jasen777

Donor
Ok, maybe not about the federal government being more credible in trade talks. States could still set their own taxes on imports?
 
Ok, maybe not about the federal government being more credible in trade talks. States could still set their own taxes on imports?

I'm assuming they most likely could, how much they could lump on top of of the 5% and remain competitive is another issue.

To your earlier question, it was the 1783 proposal that provided for state-appointed collectors and also set a 25 year limit on the power. The 1781 version was more open ended, to be relinquished when the debt was paid down.
 
Last edited:
Top