Articles of Confederation
Section I: Essay
The Articles of Confederation was, in a sense, the first United States constitution. It was adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777 and later ratified by all 13 original states on March 1, 1781. The Constitution later replaced the Articles when it was ratified by New Hampshire on June 21, 1788. The two documents have a lot in common, such as being established by the same people, both served to maintain a free government, both referred to the nation as the United States of America, both were the laws of the United States government, and both gave the states the power to regulate commerce, tax citizens, make laws, and provide for a common defense. However, when one looks at the details, they differ much more than they resemble each other. Comparing them can give us true insight as to what the Framers found important in 1781, and what they reconsidered and changed by 1788. The fundamental difference between the Articles and the Constitution is the fact that the Articles made no provision for the new federal government to exercise any power over the individual states, especially when it came to collecting taxes from the states, imposing laws that would apply to the states, and organizing a federal army for which the states would provide soldiers. It can be fairly concluded that the Articles of Confederation gave power to the states and the Constitution gave power to the federal government to regulate those states. This is what ultimately made the Constitution a necessity and why it is still in place today. Some of the most major differences between these documents are their branches, the powers of the national government, the powers of the states, elections, and money. The Articles of Confederation had a unicameral government, where only Congress existed. The Constitution has three branches, which are the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. Each has a special purpose and a job. The Executive carries out the laws, the
The Articles of Confederation was, in a sense, the first United States constitution. It was adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777 and later ratified by all 13 original states on March 1, 1781. The Constitution later replaced the Articles when it was ratified by New Hampshire on June 21, 1788. The two documents have a lot in common, such as being established by the same people, both served to maintain a free government, both referred to the nation as the United States of America, both were the laws of the United States government, and both gave the states the power to regulate commerce, tax citizens, make laws, and provide for a common defense. However, when one looks at the details, they differ much more than they resemble each other. Comparing them can give us true insight as to what the Framers found important in 1781, and what they reconsidered and changed by 1788. The fundamental difference between the Articles and the Constitution is the fact that the Articles made no provision for the new federal government to exercise any power over the individual states, especially when it came to collecting taxes from the states, imposing laws that would apply to the states, and organizing a federal army for which the states would provide soldiers. It can be fairly concluded that the Articles of Confederation gave power to the states and the Constitution gave power to the federal government to regulate those states. This is what ultimately made the Constitution a necessity and why it is still in place today. Some of the most major differences between these documents are their branches, the powers of the national government, the powers of the states, elections, and money. The Articles of Confederation had a unicameral government, where only Congress existed. The Constitution has three branches, which are the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. Each has a special purpose and a job. The Executive carries out the laws, the