How Did The Articles Of Confederation Affect The Constitution

The United States operated under two different constitutions. The Articles of Confederation was placed into effect on March 1, 1781. There were many weaknesses with this system. After several years, this document was replaced by the Constitution on June 21, 1788. There were a few similarities within the documents, but mostly vast differences.

The Articles of Confederation, Adopted by Congress on November 15, 1777, for all practical purposes was the United States’ first Constitution. Created to establish a bond between the newly formed states, “...the Articles purposely established a "constitution" that vested the largest share of power to the individual states” (Early America). This ensured that the government did not have the majority of power. “...the Articles denied Congress the power to collect taxes, regulate interstate commerce and enforce laws...allowing the states retained their "sovereignty, freedom and independence” (Early

Following the United States’ independence from Great Britain, delegates from each collective state set out to establish a body to govern the newly formed nation. From this came the Articles of Confederation, which was officially ratified in 1781. The Articles of Confederation proved to be a landmark in government for those days because it was a model of what a loose confederation could be. However, this soon failed because the official

The thirteen American colonies unified by forming a national government that began as a singular body of government under the Articles of Confederation and evolved into a government with multiple branches under the Constitution. The Articles of Confederation acted as a plan of government to help America get back on its feet during and after the Revolutionary War. However, Congress could not enforce the laws of The Articles of Confederation or ensure that their taxes would be collected. After the war America owed a lot of money to other countries and could not pay it unless they started to tax more. They faced serious economic problems and had to rely on the states for money. Therefore, people did not agree with the Articles because it taxed

The three major issues the Articles of Confederation brought upon the United States were: managing the western expansion, foreign relations, and debt.

The Founding Fathers during this time-period was emphasizing the concept of the nation being recognized as a representative democracy back then. In this taking sides, two individuals have two unique and opposite arguments, discussing if the Founding Fathers Democratic Reformers. The first individual was The Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States, on November 15, 1777. The second continental congress appointed a 13-man committee to commission a federal constitution on June 12, 1776.

The Articles of Confederation was an ineffective government, failing both externally and internally due to a weak central government. Externally, other nations refused to trade with America and disputed over territorial gain. Internally, the Articles of Confederation had little distinct power over the states forcing a split into differing political parties and social stratification. With a lack in both external and internal control, the negative aspects of the Articles of Confederation helped the nation towards the positives of the Constitution.

The Articles of Confederation were both effective and ineffective in their time of use in the United States, which were the years 1781 through 1789. In reaction to the tyrannical behavior of the British Monarchy towards the colonies prior to the revolution, shortly after the Declaration of Independence was signed, the educated and powerful citizens in the US created a new system unlike any form of government the states had experienced before. The Articles of Confederation were created and then ratified by all 13 states in 1781. These articles were enough structure to provide the USA with a temporary government in its time of transition between the British rule and independence, but too flawed to serve as a permanent government. It lacked in

The Articles of Confederation was the United State’s first constitution, it was written in an effort to unite the states after the American Revolution and served as a blueprint for the modern constitution. In order for the Articles to become official, they had to be approved by all thirteen colonies. Although Congress sent the Articles of Confederation to the states around the end of 1777 to become ratified, they were not officially adopted until March 1, 1781. Under these Articles, the states remained sovereign and independent, with Congress serving as the last resort on appeal of disputes. The American people feared a strong national government and as a result of this, the Articles of Confederation were specifically designed to be weak in the sense that each state maintains its own sovereignty and all rights to govern themselves, with the except of the rights exclusively granted to Congress. Since the Articles lacked many necessary components to keep a nation properly structured, they were eventually revised into the constitution we recognize today. Although, the Articles of Confederation seemed as though it only contained weaknesses, within the document, many strengths and accomplishments were made. Overall, the Articles of Confederation were proven to be both efficient and non-efficient during the time period they were in effect.

In 1776, when the United States declared independence from Britain, the new country needed a set of laws to apply to all of the states to replace the earlier British rule. The colonists, however, were concerned that if the United States put too much power in the central government the states rights would vanish. Therefore, the first form of government, the Articles of Confederation, gave too much power to the states and insufficient power to the central government. States could create their own money and refuse federal taxes, which caused many tribulations and almost destroyed the new country. In 1787, delegates from twelve states came together to revise the Articles

The Articles of Confederation were somewhat like the constitution, we have today. They served as a governing tool from 1781 until 1787(“Articles of Confederation”). The Articles of Confederation were called for by the Second Continental Congress. When they were called, the articles were questionable and very unsteady as to what the rules were. As the Articles of Confederation were underway, they would bind the 13 colonies into one nation(“Articles of Confederation”). After so many issues with the Articles of Confederation also the time we were in, which was right during the Revolutionary war; Congress no longer had the power of the people, and could no longer in force the states to do what they are expected of (“Articles of Confederation”).

When America won the war for independence in 1781, the economy of the country was in a terrible state. During the war, British Navy has had great authority and damaged most of the American ships, crippling the flow of trade. Since both the armies repeatedly stole from local farms in order to find food and shelter, the farmers suffered even more. After the war, America faced more financial problems. Britain punished the United States through different methods. For instance, Britain stopped importing from US and also forbade its remaining colonies in the Caribbean from dealing with the United States. The south could not export their produces like rice, tobacco which was big part of their economy. A large amount of debt taken by the States to

The Articles of Confederation, written in 1777 and ratified in 1781 formed the basis for the new American government. Written during the revolutionary war, many delegates were cautious of the new government, especially because they were very careful not to put the new nation under the rule of a government too similar to the one the colonies had just seceded from. Although the Articles of Confederation were meant to limit the government and provide for more freedom, its shortcomings would prove that if the new nation were the succeed, the Articles of Confederation had severe shortcomings that would lead to major complications.

“ Having to declare their Independence the colonies needed to establish a governmental structure. In November 1777 the Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, the United States first written Constitution. Although it was not ratified by all the States until 1781. It was the country's operative Constitution for almost 12 years, until March 1789.” (Ginsberg 35). The concepts presented in the Constitution came from various divergent enlightenment thinkers and their philosophies such as John Locke and Voltaire. Most of the Constitution was inspired by John Locke and his idea of the people getting to select their leaders. In 1777 the Continental Congress espoused the Articles of Confederation but was not ratified until 1871.

After the Revolution, the States adopted their own constitutions, many of which contained a Bill of Rights. The Americans still faced the challenge of creating a central government for their new nation. In 1777 the Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, which were ratified in 1781. Under the Articles, the states retained their “sovereignty, freedom and independence,” while the national government was kept weak and inferior. Over the next few years it became evident that the system of government that had been chosen was not strong enough to completely settle and defend the frontier, regulating trade, currency and commerce, and organizing thirteen states into one union.