Under the Articles of Confederation...?

Question

Could states tax the way they wanted to without the national government's input?

Answer 1

Yes; however, the problem came with enforcing the law. A tax or law would be passed and no one in the state would heed it. This was also true with national taxes and laws. That is why Shayes rebellion (or the whiskey rebellion) was such a turning point in our history and eventually led to the Constitution. I believe a national tax had been placed on alcohol (the object was to try to control and cutback the vast amount being sold and consumed by so many americans). Well many of the new americans rebelled against this law. They were led by a man named Shaye. Washington hadn't been president too long but he rounded up the militia and made it clear he'd come down and wipe out all of those rebels. Needless to say, the rebellion stopped. That's when congress started to realize they might have to re-figure the articles of confederation.

Answer 2

Absolutely, the states had the power to tax, NOT THE NATIONAL

GOVERNMENT. The lack of the National Government having the power to tax was 1 of the main problems with the Articles Government.

Many states taxed other states trade as they passed through the state killing interstate trade, which was the other Big problem for the Articles Government, no power over interstate trade.

                     Hope that helps Packers.