Difference between the Constitution and Articles of Confederation?

Question

God Bless America

Answer 1

Here's a list of basic differences:

(A) = Articles of Confederation
(C) = Constitution

LEVYING TAXES
(A) Congress could request states to pay taxes
(C) Congress has right to levy taxes on individuals

FEDERAL COURTS
(A) No system of federal courts
(C) Court system created to deal with issues between citizens, states

REGULATION OF TRADE
(A) No provision to regulate interstate trade
(C) Congress has right to regulate trade between states

EXECUTIVE
(A) No executive with power. President of U.S. merely presided over Congress
(C) Executive branch headed by President who chooses Cabinet and has checks on power of judiciary and legislature

AMENDING DOCUMENT
(A) 13/13 needed to amend Articles
(C) 2/3 of both houses of Congress plus 3/4 of state legislatures or national convention

REPRESENTATION OF STATES
(A) Each state received 1 vote regardless of size
(C) Upper house (Senate) with 2 votes; lower house (House of Representatives) based on population

RAISING AN ARMY
(A) Congress could not draft troops, dependent on states to contribute forces
(C) Congress can raise an army to deal with military situations

INTERSTATE COMMERCE
(A) No control of trade between states
(C) Interstate commerce controlled by Congress

DISPUTES BETWEEN STATES
(A) Complicated system of arbitration
(C) Federal court system to handle disputes

SOVEREIGNTY
(A) Sovereignty resides in states
(C) Constitution the supreme law of the land

PASSING LAWS
(A) 9/13 needed to approve legislation
(C) 50%+1 of both houses plus signature of President

from table at: http://home.earthlink.net/~gfeldmeth/chart.art.html

Answer 2

Articles of Confederation lasted for ten years and was created before the Constitution.
The Articles favored states rights over the national government's rights.
For example, the National Government wasn't allowed to tax. The government had to ask the states to borrow money. Also, under the articles of Confederation, each state had a different standard for money.
The Articles of Confederation didn't work because of the lack of power in the National Government. When the Constitution was created, they gave the national government power over certain aspects, and the states over others, and then local government over others with a system of checks and balances.
The writers were afraid of having a too-powerful national government, or one person as a leader.