A comparison and contrast of the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution of 1787

967 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Similarities articles of confederation vs constitution

A comparison and contrast of the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution of 1787. The Articles of Confederation voted on and adopted by the Continental Congress, November 15, 1777 (Carey, 2013). It was the first constitution of America, though complete ratification of the Articles of Confederation by all thirteen states did not take place until March 1, 1781. After some of the states realized that the Articles of Confederation did not adequately resolve the national and international issues that the United States was facing. As a result, on March 4, 1789, the Articles of Confederation were then replaced by the new Constitution of 1787. This new constitution was signed by the members of the Constitutional Convention on September 17, 1787 in Philadelphia (Grubb, 2006). In the new constitution, members tried to strengthen the central government. The new constitution was the demand of time. It was more practical. It was broader than the article of Confederation. Under article of Confederation, states were free to form their military. But under the new Constitution of 1787, this power was taken from the states and given to the centre. In new constitution, foreign affair and defense department was given to federal government. No state was given power to sign treaties with other nations. Some changes were also brought in the composition of congress under the new constitution. Now, seats in Congress were decided on the basis of the population of each state. On various instances, it was observed that the Articles of Confederation was insufficient and ineffective to tackle the problems. In 1786, Shays' Rebellion occurred in the western Massachusetts area in a major protest to the rising debt and terrible economy (Monty, 2011). Th... ... middle of paper ... ...he articles of confederation. Public Choice, 109(1-2), 205. http://search.proquest.com/docview/207143359?accountid=44759 KEITH, L. D., & MICHAEL, J. G. C. (1997). Marginal cost sharing and the articles of confederation. Public Choice (1986-1998), 90(1-4), 201. http://search.proquest.com/docview/194644735?accountid=44759 Keith, L. D., & Jac, C. H. (2006). A pivotal voter from a pivotal state: Roger Sherman at the constitutional convention. The American Political Science Review, 100(2), 297-302. http://search.proquest.com/docview/214442876?accountid=44759 Monty, G. M. (2011). The measurement of democracy and the means of history. Society, 48(1), 24-35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12115-010-9390-7 Public administration under the article of confederation. (1990). Public Administration Quarterly, 13(4), 433. http://search.proquest.com/docview/226967799?accountid=44759

Show More
Related

  • Unraveling the Failure of the Articles of Confederation

    653 Words  | 2 Pages

    The unpredictable failure of the Articles of Confederation to the continental congress was a huge problem. The Articles of Confederation was made so the states would have more power, And limit the powers of the national government. Main contributors for this action was the fear that the national government will gain too much power and overstep its authority.This would have a negative effect on the nation, because tensions will start to rise for the ineffectiveness of this new system of government. A Rebellion best known as Shays rebellion, took place shortly after The adoption of the Articles of Confederation. The states, in which shays rebellion has taken place, were becoming unjust/unfair the way in which the state collected taxes. Since the Articles of Confederation was a complete failure

    Read More

  • What Was The Difference Between Roche And John Beard

    1581 Words  | 4 Pages

    One’s ability to analyze the motives of the Framers necessitates some understanding of the sense of national instability instilled in the US its first form of government, the Articles of Confederation in granting little power to the central government; in particular, focusing on the economic turmoil and it’s effects on the Framers. In his analysis of America in the Articles, Beard comprehensively summarizes the failures of the Articles as compromising to the “national defense, protection of private property, and advancement of commerce,” (Beard, 36) in the US. Additionally, Beard utilizes these indisputable truths to establish a case for what he believes to be the self-interested influences that urged the Framers to craft an undemocratic Constitution. As Beard puts it, the state centered control of the US under the Articles caused the economic

    Read More

  • The Argument that the US Constitution Favors the Elite

    1466 Words  | 3 Pages

    Beard, Charles Austin. An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States. New Brunswick, N.J.: Transaction Publishers, 1998. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), EBSCOhost (accessed February 23, 2014

    Read More

  • Articles of Confederation vs. Constitution

    1404 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Articles of Confederation was the nation’s first Constitution. The articles created a loose Confederation of independent states that gave limited powers to the central government. Each state would have one vote in the House of Congress, no matter the size of the population. Members of the one-house Congress, such as Pennsylvania, agreed that the new government should be a unicameral legislature, without an executive branch or a separate judiciary. Under the article, there wasn’t a strong independent executive.

    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

    The Articles of Confederation were approved by Congress on November 15, 1777 and ratified by the states on March 1, 1781. It was a modest attempt by a new country to unite itself and form a national government. The Articles set up a Confederation that gave most of the power to the states. Many problems arose and so a new Constitution was written in 1787 in Independence Hall. The new Constitution called for a much more unified government with a lot more power. Let us now examine the changes that were undertaken.

    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.

    Read More

  • Philosophers Of The Federalist Papers

    1120 Words  | 3 Pages

    More and more states became interested in these changes and decided to meet in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787. On this date the Constitutional Convention was held and the U.S Constitution was presented as a new plan of government that would completely replace the old system. This new plan called for a strong central government that would have highest authority on legislation and implementing laws. The federalist papers supported the choice to replace the Articles of Confederation and advocated for a strong central government. They persuaded citizens that this new form of government would build a stronger national unity and it would provide greater protection overall.

    Read More

  • A Brilliant Solution: Inventing The American Constitution

    844 Words  | 2 Pages

    The novel A Brilliant Solution: Inventing the American Constitution by Carol Berkin describes the problems and struggles America faced after they gained independence from Britain in the late 1700s. The novel begins by describing the many problems American’s the founding fathers faced. The aftermath of the Revolution left the country in economic crisis because America had no way to repay debts from the war. The boiling point is highlighted in chapter one, on August 1786 when the infamous Shays Rebellion occurred because farmers believed “the government… had turned its back on the people-and the people no longer owed such a government any loyal (26).” Farmers involved in the rebellion blocked courthouses so the government could not take over

    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

  • Factionalism in America

    1750 Words  | 4 Pages

    Following the failure of the Articles of Confederation, a debate arose discussing how a centralized government ought to be organized. The prevailing opinion ultimately belonged to the Federalists, whose philosophy was famously outlined in The Federalist Papers. Recognizing that in a free nation, man would naturally divide himself into factions, they chose not to remedy this problem by stopping it at its source; instead, they would limit its effects by placing strict structural safeguards within the government's framework. The Federalists defined a facti...

    Read More

  • Federal Government Reflection

    1101 Words  | 3 Pages

    First, the formation of the Articles of Confederation was the first constitution in the United States. The Articles of Confederation was not the best constitution out there since congress could make decisions, but had no power to enforce them. There was a requirement for unanimous approval before any modifications

    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

  • The Controversy Over the Electoral College System

    1487 Words  | 3 Pages

    Best, Judith A. The Choice of the People? Debating the Electoral College. England: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 1996, pgs. 43-44.

    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 A comparison and contrast of the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution of 1787

Open Document