Malcolm Rivera
The Articles of Confederation (AOC) and the Constitution are two important documents in the history of the United States, but they differ in significant ways. The AOC, adopted in 1777, served as the nation's first constitution, creating a government where the states retained most of the power, leaving the central government weak and unable to address internal conflicts or conduct foreign policy effectively. In contrast, the Constitution, ratified in 1789, established a much stronger federal government with three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial, ensuring power was not concentrated in a single branch. This new framework significantly increased the power of the federal government over states, including control over money, taxes, and interstate commerce. The Constitution was designed as a living document that could be amended, reflecting the needs of a growing and changing nation.
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What You'll Learn
The Articles of Confederation (AOC) were the first US constitution
The Articles of Confederation created a government in which the colonies—now states—retained most of the power. This left the central government weak, with no essential powers such as the ability to control foreign policy or impose taxes. The central government was reliant on the states to voluntarily send tax money, and each state had its own money system, making trade between states and with other countries extremely difficult. The Articles also made it very difficult to pass legislation, as Congress needed 9 out of 13 states to agree to pass any laws, and any amendments required unanimous consent.
The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation became apparent when, in 1786, a group of western Massachusetts residents, led by former Continental Army Captain Daniel Shays, rebelled due to high taxes and wartime debt. The federal government was unable to address this internal rebellion, as it lacked the funds and military power to do so. This event, known as Shays' Rebellion, was the final straw that prompted calls for a revision of the Articles.
In May 1787, the Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation. The delegates quickly decided to go beyond their mandate and create an entirely new constitution, rather than simply revising the Articles. This new constitution provided for a much stronger federal government, with powers related to foreign affairs, taxation, and the establishment of a chief executive (the president), courts, and a bicameral legislature. The Constitution was designed to be a living document that could be amended to meet the needs of a growing and changing nation.
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The Constitution replaced the AOC in 1789
The Articles of Confederation (AOC) was the United States' first constitution. It was adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and served as the official law of the land from March 1, 1781, until 1789.
The Articles of Confederation created a government in which the colonies, now states, retained most of the power. This left the central government weak, with no ability to control foreign policy, enforce laws, or tax. The central government also lacked the power to address internal rebellions, such as Shays' Rebellion in 1786 and 1787, which threatened to topple the state government of Massachusetts.
In May 1786, Charles Pinckney of South Carolina proposed that Congress revise the Articles of Confederation. However, unanimous approval was necessary to make alterations, and Congress failed to reach a consensus.
In September 1786, some states met to address interstate protectionist trade barriers between them. As more states became interested in revising the Articles, a meeting was set in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787, which became the Constitutional Convention. The Constitutional Convention included some of the most respected and talented men in America, such as George Washington, who was named president.
The delegates to the convention decided to go beyond their mandate and author a new constitution. They created a model of government that relied upon a series of checks and balances by dividing federal authority between the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. This separation of powers ensured that power would not be concentrated in one particular branch.
The new Constitution provided for a much stronger federal government by establishing a chief executive (the president), courts, and taxing powers. It also allowed Congress to control interstate commerce and barred states from creating their own currency.
After significant ratification debates in each state, the government under the Articles of Confederation was replaced with the federal government under the Constitution in 1789.
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The Constitution was designed to be a living document
The Articles of Confederation, written in 1777, served as the United States' first constitution. It was in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789 when the present-day US Constitution came into effect. The Articles of Confederation were approved by the Second Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, after a year of debates.
The Articles of Confederation had several limitations. Firstly, it created a government in which the colonies, now states, retained most of the power, leaving the central government weak. The central government lacked essential powers such as the ability to control foreign policy, pass or enforce laws, or tax, making it reliant on the states for funding. Secondly, each state had a single vote in Congress, reinforcing the power of the states to operate independently from the central government. Thirdly, Congress required 9 out of 13 states to pass any laws, making it difficult to pass legislation affecting all states. Fourthly, the document was practically impossible to amend as it required unanimous consent from all 13 states for any changes. Lastly, the Articles of Confederation did not establish a common currency, making trade within the country and with other nations challenging.
Due to these limitations, a Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia in 1787 to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation and create a stronger federal government. The convention included respected and talented men such as George Washington, who was named president, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. The convention debated various plans, including the ""Virginia Plan," which proposed an entirely new form of government with an executive, judiciary, and a bicameral legislature. The "New Jersey Plan," on the other hand, aimed to revise the Articles of Confederation while preserving equal representation of the states. After much debate, the convention decided to create an entirely new form of government, and the new Constitution was signed.
The US Constitution, which came into effect in 1789, established a federal government with specific powers, including those related to foreign relations. It created three branches of government: the executive, legislative, and judicial, ensuring a separation of powers. The Constitution also provided for a stronger federal government by establishing a chief executive (the president), courts, and taxing powers. It allowed Congress to control interstate commerce and granted it the power to tax individuals.
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The Constitution created three branches of government
The Articles of Confederation, approved on November 15, 1777, was the United States' first constitution. It served as the official law of the land from March 1, 1781, until 1789, when the present-day US Constitution was ratified and came into effect.
The Articles of Confederation had several limitations, including the fact that it was practically impossible to amend. It required unanimous consent for any amendment to be passed, which was challenging given the rivalries between the states. Additionally, the Articles did not provide the central government with essential powers such as the ability to control foreign policy, tax citizens, or address internal rebellions.
The Constitution, on the other hand, was created to be a living document that could be amended to meet the needs of a changing nation. It established a much stronger federal government by creating three branches of government: the executive, legislative, and judicial. This separation of powers ensured that power would not be concentrated in a single branch.
The executive branch was given authority over foreign affairs, although powers such as treaty ratification remained with the legislative branch. The legislative branch was now bicameral, consisting of the House of Representatives, elected by popular vote, and the Senate, appointed by the states. The Constitution also granted Congress the power to tax individuals and control interstate commerce, addressing the issues of states having separate money systems and the central government's inability to settle Revolutionary War-era debts.
The judicial branch, along with the other two branches, created a system of checks and balances, ensuring that power was distributed among different branches of the government. This new form of government, unprecedented at the time, provided a framework for the United States Government that remains in effect today.
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The Constitution increased federal government power
The Articles of Confederation, which served as the United States' first constitution, was adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and was in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789. The Articles created a government in which the colonies, now states, retained most of the power. This left the central government weak, without essential powers like the ability to control foreign policy or to tax.
The Constitution, on the other hand, established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments. The new Constitution provided for a much stronger federal government by establishing a chief executive (the president), courts, and taxing powers.
One of the most significant changes between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution was the creation of the three branches of government: the executive, legislative, and judicial. This separation of powers ensured that power would not be concentrated in one particular branch. Under the Articles of Confederation, there was no executive or judicial branch, and the legislative body was a single body appointed by the state legislatures.
The Constitution also gave the federal government more power over money and taxes. The new system of government allowed Congress to control interstate commerce and barred states from creating their own coined money. It also granted the federal government the power to tax individuals.
The Constitution was created to be a living document that could be amended to meet the needs of a growing and changed nation. The Articles of Confederation, on the other hand, were seen as stagnant and ineffective, as they were difficult to amend due to the requirement of unanimous consent from all states.
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Frequently asked questions
The Articles of Confederation established a unicameral legislature, with one chamber in Congress and each state having one vote. On the other hand, the Constitution created a bicameral system, with two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress lacked the authority to collect taxes, regulate commerce, and make trade between the states and other countries viable. This led to economic issues and difficulty in funding the American war expenses and debt. In contrast, the Constitution granted Congress the power to lay and collect taxes, addressing these financial challenges.
The Articles of Confederation established a weak central government with limited powers. It gave minimum authority to the central government, reinforcing the power of the states to act independently. Conversely, the Constitution created a strong federal government with checks and balances, establishing a clear separation of powers among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
The Articles of Confederation were extremely difficult to amend as they required unanimous consent from all 13 states. This made the document nearly impossible to adapt after the war with Britain ended in 1783. In contrast, the Constitution requires agreement from three-fourths of all states to make amendments, allowing for a more flexible and evolving legal framework.
