Congress was denied any powers of taxation: it could only request money from the states. The states often failed to meet these requests in full, leaving both Congress and the Continental Army chronically short of money. As more money was printed by Congress, the continental dollars depreciated. In 1779, George Washington wrote to John Jay, who was serving as the president of the Continental Congress, "that a wagon load of money will scarcely purchase a wagon load of provisions. '' Mr. Jay and the Congress responded in May by requesting $45 million from the States. In an appeal to the States to comply, Jay wrote that the taxes were "the price of liberty, the peace, and the safety of yourselves and posterity. '' He argued that Americans should avoid having it said "that America had no sooner become independent than she became insolvent '' or that "her infant glories and growing fame were obscured and tarnished by broken contracts and violated faith. '' The States did not respond with any of the money requested from them.
which had more power over taxation under the articles of confederation
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