The Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution essays

The Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution essays The Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution are two systems of government that were adopted by the United States as the backbone of their society. The Articles of Confederation was the first form of government established by the United States. It was a union between the newly declared thirteen states. Many delegates realized that the Articles of Confederation was a weak form of government and called a convention after what became known as Shays's Rebellion. At this convention, delegates debated and finally decided that the United States needed a new form of government. Once all debate and compromise were over the Constitution was established. The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of the United States. Congress was unicameral, or a single-chamber legislature and each state had the same amount of power no matter their size or population. When documents needed to be amended, it tool approval by all thirteen states for ratification. Passing laws required approval by nine of the thirteen states. Congress could request states to pay taxes but had no real taxing powers. There were no federal court systems and all laws and court cases were handled by the state governments. Congress had no power to regulate trade between the states or internationally. The executive branch had no power and the president presided over Congress. There was no national army and the nation depended on individual states to establish a military. The weaknesses of this first form of government were eventually seen and the U.S. Constitution was eventually established. The Constitution of the United States is a system of fundamental laws of the United States of America. The Constitution was drawn up by 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia during the summer of 1787 and ratified by the states in 1788. It is a bicameral form of government. The upper house is the Senate and it consists of two representatives from e...