The Constitution vs Articles of Confederation?

Question

What were the strengths and weaknesses for each?

Answer 1

Yeah, the Articles were weak, but it's important to know that they were weak on purpose, because Americans were still nervous of someone with power (king of England). The articles DID 1. give Congress the right to wage war, 2. make treaties, 3. send diplomatic representatives, 4. borrow money. But did NOT give it the right to: 1. regulate commerce 2. Collect taxes

Answer 2

Articles of Confederation .
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The Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States, on November 15, 1777. However, ratification of the Articles of Confederation by all thirteen states did not occur until March 1, 1781. The Articles created a loose confederation of sovereign states and a weak central government, leaving most of the power with the state governments. 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.
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United States Constitution

The members of the Constitutional Convention signed the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Constitutional Convention convened in response to dissatisfaction with the Articles of Confederation and the need for a strong centralized government. After four months of secret debate and many compromises, the proposed Constitution was submitted to the states for approval. Although the vote was close in some states, the Constitution was eventually ratified and the new Federal government came into existence in 1789.
The Constitution. The primary aim of the Constitution was to create a strong elected government that was responsive to the will of the people, although there is some controversy over this. Many of the Founding Fathers believed that the new government needed to be insulated from the will of the people; hence the design of such features as the Electoral College or the election of Senators by the state legislatures. The concept of self-government did not originate with the Americans; indeed, a measure of self-government existed in the United Kingdom at the time. But the degree to which the Constitution committed the United States to rule by the people was unique, even revolutionary, in comparison with other governments around the world. By the time the Constitution was adopted, Americans had considerable expertise in the art of self-government. Long before independence was declared, the colonies were functioning governmental units controlled by the people. After the Revolution had begun between January 1, 1776, and April 20, 1777, ten of the thirteen states had adopted their own constitutions. Most states had a governor elected by the state legislature. The legislature itself was elected by popular vote. Every state but Pennsylvania had a bicameral legislature as well.


For further information go to Google:

Type in: "Find Articles of Confederation"

Hit "Search" key

You'll bring up sites re the Articles.

Click appropriate sites.

Then
Type in: "Find Constitution of the U.S."

Hit "Search" key

You'll bring up sites re the Constitution

Click appropriate sites for more detailed information re the strengths and weaknesses for each of them.

Answer 3

Well, the Articles of Confederation only worked durning the war, but after the war the government fell apart, the Articles just weren't strong enough to govern the new nation, many of the citizens didn't agree with it, they felt it pushed them around and they weren't indepentdent and didn't have a say in what went on, and it basicly robbed many farmers who couldn't pay debts, and the government could not tax so it made the nation very poor. while the Constitution was put together better, and everyone could agree it its rules. It was some what based off of the Articles, and was made up of different forms of government. And sense many states allowed slavery, it said it was protected till 1808 then it could be banned if there were enough votes. The Constitution gave each state so many representives depending on population. But the upper house had 2 senators and that would not change no matter how many people lived in that state. The Constitution consist of 3 branchs of goverment Judicial (courts of law), an exeuctive branch headed by the President, and a legislative branch (congess). It also established a system of balances and checks.

Read Mhohol's answer also, its very good.

Answer 4

The articles of Confederation greatly limited the federal governments poer and authority; could not impose taxes is the only major weakes I can remember, though.
It was good in that it did limit the gov'ts power, but it took away too much power which is why it was a failure.

The Constituiton provides for a much more stable gov't and has many valid points. The weakness of it though was that it originally did not have a Bill of Rights, which I am sure most people would deem very important. The elastic clause is interesting in that it leaves open a chance for the gov't to make certain ridiculus extensiions,e.g. Bank of the U.S., but is nonetheless useful and helpful to the people as well. The fact that the Bank of the U.S. did not pan out helps to prove the strength of the Constitution.

Answer 5

The Articles of Confederation had almost no strengths. They were weak and pointless. The Constitution has worked pretty well for us so far , good luck with your paper.

Answer 6

the articles allowed states to print its own money, so there was a lot of confusion, it had no standing army, central govenment had no real power, states could tax each other. - all weaknesses

the constitution created a strong central government with the power to levy taxes, print its own money, It smoothed out interstate commerce. It definitley gave us a more organized an effective government. Weakness- some argue that too much central power is a bad thing and that the states should be more independant.

that's not all, but it's all i can remember from my ushistory class

Answer 7

The structure reinforced the federal authorities drastically and took important skill faraway from the states. both archives depended on diverse varieties or tiers of federalism. The Articles of Confederation had formed a authorities that George Washington defined as “little more suitable than a shadow without substance.”

Answer 8

let me just tell you what I know:
the main concept is that the articles of confederation came first, and was a weak form of government because it gave the states to much power. The idea was that the government would be better if the national government had more power than the state government. One reason was to enforce taxes. yipee

Answer 9

all i remeber the articles of confederation didn't work out