Comparing The Articles Of Confederation And The Constitution

1057 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Articles of confederation vs the constitution

The Articles of Confederation was ratified in 1871 and considered to be the first Constitution of the United States. The goal of the Articles of Confederation was to ensure each states maintains its independence, sovereignty, and freedom. The Articles were ratified by all 13 states. (Daniel, P.14, 2010) The Confederation Congress called for a convention to meet in 1787 to be held in Philadelphia. The nature of the convention was to revise the articles of Confederation. The Confederation congress wanted the Constitution to be changed in a way that would render the federal Constitution adequate to the exigencies of government and the preservation of the Union. (Daniel, P.14, 2010) The Articles of Confederation do vary from the New Constitution of 1787, Changes were made, and many felt the changes needed and would be the key to the success of the United States of America. (Daniel, P.239, 2010) Where these changes needed, or would the United States be fine without them? Are the changes significant enough to achieve the goals the Confederate Congress were reaching for? These are questions that can be answered by reviewing the strong and weak points of both the Articles of Confederation and the New Constitution of 1787. The very first Article known as Article 1 in the Articles of Confederation …show more content…

The goal was to have a powerful active and judicial branches along with a stronger legislative branch which would make up the National Government. This new Government would have the power to regulate interstate commerce, the army and taxes. (Daniel, P.14, 2010) The overall difference is the Articles of Confederation give each state its sovereignty and independence while the New Constitution makes federal laws the so called “Laws of The Land” (Daniel, P.14, 2010). Overall once federal laws are set into place all states must adhere to

Show More
Related

  • Articles Of Confederation Dbq Essay

    708 Words  | 2 Pages

    With these different balances to control the powers throughout the new government, the problem of tyranny wasn’t as such of a problem as it was when the Articles of Confederation were in place. The states were now represented justly, the national and state levels of government fairly empowered, and the three branches within the national government were balanced. Even the three branches within balanced each other out, so one wouldn’t become too under or over powered. The new government created by the Constitution was a good answer to protect against

    Read More

  • Articles of Confederation vs. Constitution

    1404 Words  | 3 Pages

    There were many differences between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. At the end of the American Revolution the free states needed some sort of control that would generate to a unified country. Issues arose such as: How should power be divided between local and national governments? How should laws be made, and by whom? Who should be authorized to govern those laws? How could the government be designed to protect the unalienable individual rights? Their first attempt at solving this issue was the Articles of Confederation, which was a failure for the most part, but not completely. After the failure of the articles, the state delegates tried to revise the articles, but instead, constructed the Constitution. There were so many changes made and very little remained the same.

    Read More

  • Creation of the United States Constitution

    1236 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Articles of Confederation was America’s first constitution. The Articles of Confederation failed to create a strong central government, however. With the demise of the states in sight, the need for a stronger and more structured central government became apparent. An invitation was sent to all thirteen states in February 1787 by the Confederation Congress to resolve the matter. The events that took place over the next several months would create the United States Constitution. Going down in history as a revolutionary form of government, the U.S. Constitution would give life to a country that is still running strong over 200 years later.

    Read More

  • The Articles Of Confederation And The Constitution: An In-Depth Analysis

    934 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of the key differences between the Constitution and the Articles of Confederation is in the way that they set up the Legislature. In the Articles, it is established as a unicameral legislature which it refers to as a Congress. The Constitution on the other hand establishes a bicameral legislature with an upper house, the Senate, and a lower house, the House of Representatives. The reason for this change was because different states wanted the number of representatives to be selected in different ways. Under the Articles of Confederation all States were represented equally and the bigger states felt that they should be getting more say in the decisions that the Country would be making. Needless to say the smaller states did not readily agree to this.

    Read More

  • Problems with the Articles of Confederation

    857 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Articles of Confederation were developed after the Revolutionary War, and were a good idea to help set standards for America. However, they had some major problems that needed to be solved in order for America to become a strong nation. After these problems were addressed the Constitution was developed.

    Read More

  • Comparing The Articles Of Confederation And The United States Constitution

    968 Words  | 2 Pages

    In comparing the Articles of Confederation with the U.S constitution that was produced by the federal convention in 1787, it is important to note that the U.S operated under both documents. During March 1, 1781, the Articles of Confederation went into effect when it was ratified by Maryland. However, the U.S constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation as soon as it was ratified on June 21, 1788 by New Hampshire. The main difference between the Articles of Confederations and the U.S Constitution is that the constitution didn’t force the laws, but established the why of the constitution. In establishing the why, it warranted the farmers to work on the government being better than the Articles of Confederations. They wanted the government

    Read More

  • The Articles of Confederation and the US Constitution

    1052 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Articles of Confederation was the United States first attempt at creating a democratic government. Instead of giving power to the central government they divided it up among the states (Kelly). This fact left the Articles with many weaknesses that ultimately led it to fail. The lack of a strong central government led to economic disorganization, no central leadership and an ineffective legislative, all which led to its downfall (Brackemyre). Leaving power to the states left the nation in a state of economic disorganization. Without the national government having the power to levy taxes, it was left with the states (Murphy). The legislature only had the right to request taxes, and it was left up to the states how they wanted to raise them, but they oftentimes weren't (Brackemyre). There was also no uniform system of currency which made trade between states difficult. The fact that states instead of Congress regulated trade led to a lack...

    Read More

  • The Shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation

    1040 Words  | 3 Pages

    In conclusion, the Articles of Confederation were a valiant effort at sufficient government, but failed because of their inability to solve peacetime economics, their lack of regulated dominion over citizens that encouraged rebellion, as well as weak system of foreign affairs. The Articles did serve as a segue to the United States Constitution, but there was a reason that the Founding Fathers completely scrapped the Articles to form the government that is familiar today. After finally overcoming the fear of a monarchy, Americans soon agreed that some type of executive government was necessary to unify the states, as long as it had some limitations and “checks and balances.” The Articles of Confederation featured commendable points, but they were unsuccessful in regards to overall efficiency and encouraging unity.

    Read More

  • Analyzing the Articles of Confederation

    728 Words  | 2 Pages

    Yes, the Constitutional Convention of 1787 was essential to preserve the Union, as the Articles of Confederation did a meager job establishing a stable America. Only a handful of people from the entire nation were pleased with the issues addressed in the Articles of Confederation. This document didn’t unite the nation, but created more differences among the people. The Articles of Confederation failed to properly allocate power between Congress and the states, giving the states supreme control, rather than Congress. This unbalance in society left each individual state on their own, besides the alliances they could form within each other (creating even more rifts within the country). The Congress didn’t hold the power to tax or create a national military, navy, and army, which didn’t allow America to strengthen as a nation. By vesting these powers in the state, the Articles of Confederation technically created thirteen small countries. After the Revolution, the United States became even more susceptible to foreign invaders and if a minute state militia was responsible for warding off these trespassers, the state would be easily attacked. This is just once consequence that could have occurred, if the Constitution of 1787 wasn’t accepted.

    Read More

  • Thomas Paine's Idea Of Equality In The Declaration Of Independence

    1567 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Articles of Confederation were ratified by all thirteen states on March 1, 1781 (The Articles of Confederation). From article two, “Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom and independence, and every Power, Jurisdiction and right, which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.” (Transcript of Articles of Confederation) The goal of these articles was to keep the government limited and to give the states more power and rights. Stemming from experience with Great Britain, which seemed to be a good idea, the articles failed only a few years later. There was too much state authority and Congress was too weak, resulting in the inability to pass any laws. Congress, under President John Adams passed the Alien and Sedition acts over a decade later. The laws increased the American citizenship requirement from five years to fourteen years. In addition, the President also had the authority to deport or imprison aliens who “...as he shall judge dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States, or shall have reasonable grounds to suspect are concerned in any treasonable or secret machinations against the government thereof...” (Transcript of Alien and Sedition Acts). Only a few decades before, the nation desired equality for everyone, but these acts went against Jefferson, Paine, and Locke’s ideas. In this time

    Read More

  • The Creation Of The Constitution

    1073 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Constitution that was created had a strong central government and weaker state governments. Under the Constitution, Congress was given the power to levy taxes, regulate trade between the states, raise an army, control interstate commerce, and more. A three-branch government was established in which a judicial branch handled disputes in a federal court system, a President headed an executive branch, and a legislative branch. Conversely, the anti-federalists believed in weak central and strong state governments, as the way it was in The Articles of Confederation and believed in strict adherence to the writings of the constitution.

    Read More

  • Federalist Papers 10 and 51

    730 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Articles of Confederation was a plan of government that was based on the principles that were fought for in the American Revolutionary War. Even though The Articles of Confederation were based upon principles we fought for, it contained major flaws. The government had no power of national taxation and had no power to control trade. The biggest weakness of The Articles of Confederation was that it had no direct origin in the people, the states were in control. Each and every state had the power to collect its own taxes, issue currency, and provide for its own military. The Articles of Confederation was a transition between the Revolutionary War and the Constitution. Without The Articles of Confederation it would have been impossible to create the United States Constitution, mistakes were made with the first, and fixed later with the Constitution.

    Read More

  • Us Constitution Vs The Articles Of Confederation

    919 Words  | 2 Pages

    The move from the Articles of Confederation to the United States Constitution caused several people to be unhappy. For 6 years the Articles weakened the United States in more ways than one. In the summer of 1787 a new form of government was created, a radical move from the Articles of Confederation.

    Read More

  • Why the Articles of Confederation Failed

    994 Words  | 2 Pages

    When the Articles of Confederation were in use, America was a young nation still recovering from a costly war. The central problem by the early 1780...

    Read More

  • Democratic and Undemocratic Aspects of the Constitutional Convention

    1373 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Articles of Confederation was the first government of the United States. The Articles had created a very weak national government. At the time the Articles were approved, they had served the will of the people. Americans had just fought a war to get freedom from a great national authority--King George III (Patterson 34). But after this government was put to use, it was evident that it was not going to keep peace between the states. The conflicts got so frequent and malicious that George Washington wondered if the “United” States should be called a Union (Patterson 35). Shays’ Rebellion finally made it evident to the public that the government needed a change.

    Read More

More about Comparing The Articles Of Confederation And The Constitution

Open Document