Constitutional Convention of

The need for a stronger Federal government soon became apparent and eventually led to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The present United States Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789.

The present United States Constitution

The Articles required unanimous consent to any amendment, so all 13 states would need to agree on a change. Given the rivalries between the states, that rule made the Articles impossible to adapt after the war ended with Britain in 1783.

Ultimately, the Articles of Confederation failed because they were crafted to keep the national government as weak as possible: There was no power to enforce laws. No judicial branch or national courts. Amendments needed to have a unanimous vote.

With the passage of time, weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation became apparent; Congress commanded little respect and no support from state governments anxious to maintain their power. Congress could not raise funds, regulate trade, or conduct foreign policy without the voluntary agreement of the states.

Specifically, the lack of a strong national government in the Articles of Confederation led to three broad limitations.

• Economic disorganization.
• Lack of central leadership.
• Legislative inefficiencies.

One of the biggest problems was that the national government had no power to impose taxes. To avoid any perception of “taxation without representation,” the Articles of Confederation allowed only state governments to levy taxes. To pay for its expenses, the national government had to request money from the states.

Cause: The government under the Articles of Confederation could not collect taxes to raise money. Effect: The government could not pay its debts from the Revolutionary War, and America lost standing with other nations.

Cause: The legislature created by the Articles of Confederation gave equal power to large and small states. Effect: Large states were unhappy because, with bigger populations, they thought they should have more power. Cause: States could and did ignore laws passed by congress created by the Articles of Confederation.

How did the constitution fix the weaknesses of the articles of confederation? The Constitution fixed the weaknesses by allowing the central government certain powers/rights. Below are some of the items the Articles did not address: Constitution became the supreme law of the United States.

The Articles of Confederation served as the written document that established the functions of the national government of the United States after it declared independence from Great Britain.

Under the Articles, the states, not Congress, had the power to tax. Congress could raise money only by asking the states for funds, borrowing from foreign governments, or selling western lands. In addition, Congress could not draft soldiers or regulate trade. There was no provision for national courts.

The difference between the Articles of Confederation and Constitution is that the Articles of Confederation are the rules that were agreed by the United States of America in the 18th century whereas the constitution is the rules that democratic countries and other legalized institutions develop to implement law and …

Government successfully waged a war for independence against the British. Government negotiated an end to the American Revolution in the Treaty of Paris, signed in 1783. Government granted the free inhabitants of each state “all the privileges and immunities of free citizens in the several states.”

Terms in this set (9)

• It successfully waged the war for independence against Great Britain.
• It provided that each state recognize the laws of the other states.
• It passed the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.
• It negotiated the peace treaty, known as the Treaty of Paris, to end the American Revolution.

Under the Articles of Confederation the national government managed to achieve a variety of successes such as the creation of executive departments to administer finance, foreign relations, and military affairs but the most important achievement would be the Northwest Ordinance which guaranteed equal treatment for …

The Articles of Confederation gave the national government so little power that they could ask for money, but since it was an option for the states, they usually declined. This drove the country into debt. This helped the country realize that the Articles weren’t a good enough plan wih major problems.

Terms in this set (6)

• States kept their power and independence. Pro.
• No overly powerful government bossing everyone around. Pro.
• Colonists were able to create their own military. Pro.
• Congress could not enforce laws. Con.
• Could not collect taxes. Con.
• Every state had to agree to change articles. Con.

The primary advantage that the Articles of Confederation provided was its ability to maintain the independence and sovereignty of each state within the union. At the same time, the states could use the articles to band together, send ambassadors to other nations overseas, and handle territory issues.