The Articles of Confederation

The Continental Congress between the years of 1776 and 1777 decided that the way of living was not suitable. After all had decided they drafted together, what we call The Articles of Confederation; “the document that defined the colonies’ collective sovereignty; drafted by the Continental Congress between 1776 and 1777, then ratified by the thirteen states in 1781”(Schultz 115). There was experimentation that was being done in the states that didn’t affect The Articles of Confederation. There wasn’t much change, as it was about the same from the late 1770s. The Articles provided each state their independence and granting very minimal power to the main federal government.

Under the Articles of Confederation, there were powers strictly reserved for the Federal Government. All of the powers were placed in one legislature, which was followed under the Continental Congress. There was also no separation of powers; along with no president, monarch or prime minister to be the executive power. Instead there was a committee of the state, which was one representative from each state that was on this committee. Being the most civilized authority it didn’t allow much power. However the Continental Congress has five powers under the Articles of Confederation: “(I) to declare war and make peace; (2) to make international treaties; (3) to control Indian affairs in the West; (4) to establish a currency; and (5) to create and maintain a postal service” (Schultz 115). Under the powers reserved for the states they had all rights to levy taxes and regulate commerce. In order to conduct war these were the two most important things needed because money was continuously moving in and out. However, under the Articles of Confederation, it couldn’t do anyt...

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...at took years and much thought. From the start with the Continental Congress to the Articles of Confederation, which then lead to the Constitution. There were weaknesses of the Articles that were resolved in the Constitution. The ability to raise funds was changed in the Constitution because they were able to have one solid currency; this then limited out much of the debt that the nation was previously involved in. Having the ability to tax because of debt was tried in the Articles; however, in the Constitution it was given to the Legislative branch, with the ability to tax an individual person not just the state. The Executive branch, took over the ability to internal trade from the Articles of Confederation. They declared one person the power and the higher authority, unlike the Articles. The United States Constitution started a new government restricted nation.