Differences Between The Articles Of Confederation And The Constitution

The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution are vastly different, yet both exhibit what was scene as essential to the success of the nation when they each were written and enacted. It is no doubt that the Articles of Confederation were weak, otherwise citizens and legislative bodies would still be answering to them. However, the Articles served as the nation’s first constitution during the Revolutionary War, of which the United States was the victor. Therefore, despite the differences between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution, both documents are essential to American history and the progress of this country. At the time of ratification in 1781, and well before that, the Articles of Confederation were established to

Delegates, including James Madison, recognized how disorganized the Articles of Confederation were, and now that the war was over and the country was $35 million dollars in debt, the country was unable to tax the states for money. This imposed trade barriers, forcing officials to edit, and eventually throw out the Articles of Confederation. The country understood that its fear of tyranny would not create a unified country. Under the Constitution, Congress now has the power to establish taxes, duties, imposts, and excised in order to benefit the country’s wellbeing and ensure that its citizens are protected. The Constitution also established a bicameral legislature, originally proposed by James Madison under his Virginia Plan, in which the House of Representatives is proportional to a state’s population, and the Senate, which two representatives from each state hold this office. Another important aspect that was established by the new “law of the land” included an executive and judicial branch, and it gives each branch the power to check the other. This concept of checks and balances ensured that one branch would not assume more power than the others. This was an effort to combat the possibility of tyranny, still a sore subject at this point in

The country would not have the resources or control over its citizens to fund a war and train a national militia. After seeing our debt to France after the Revolutionary War, it would be extremely hard to find another country to supply and support a country that has a history of not being able to organize and pay back its debts. The nation could not guarantee the safety of its people, therefore, there would be uprisings, rebellion, and a never ending civil war. Sadly, under the Articles of Confederation, this country would not be the United States of America, but rather thirteen practically independent