Articles Of Confederation Vs Continental Congress

After the colonials won their independence from Great Britain, they were finally able to stand up for themselves. The newly formed United States of America needed a new national government to have the ability to structure a new country. A government free from tyranny, where the voice of the people mattered. The Continental Congress, a convention of delegates from the thirteen colonies, adopted the Articles of Confederation on November 15, 1777. The Articles generated a problem due to the fact that it gave most of the power to the states and it formed a weak central government. Some disputed that the states needed this power, others argued that more power should be in the hands of the national government in order to run a solid and stable country.

The debate over whether the power should be given to either the states or the national government created two groups, the Federalists, and the Anti-Federalists. Federalists wanted a stronger national government and the ratification of the Constitution. While Anti-Federalists opposed the development of a strong federal government and the ratification of the Constitution and instead wanted the power to remain in the hands of the state. The Anti-Federalists opposition were made up of different ideas. Many were against the Constitution to protect the state’s sovereignty. Others believed that a strong central government would create an unwanted monarchy just like Great Britain’s. Then there were those who simply feared losing their personal freedom. In order to ratify the Constitution, Federalists needed to adopt a list of amendments that would satisfy Anti-Federalists’ concerns. They guaranteed the people that this would be the first step in forming a new government.
Twelve amendments were sent by Congress to the states in order to be ratified. Immediately, the states ratified ten out of the twelve amendments. These became the Bill of Rights, a list of our basic rights and limits on the federal government. The lists includes the freedom of religion and speech, the right to bear arms, no quartering of troops in homes, the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. Most importantly the declaration of any powers not given to the federal government are reserved to the states and the people.
With the addition of the Bill of Rights, it is understood that personal freedoms are important and the power of the federal government must be limited. The list is essential to us citizens for its purpose of stopping the resulting confusions of power by the government and protecting the fundamental rights of the citizens and against any kind of violation by the government