After the Revolutionary War, the thirteen colonies needed a government to replace the British system they overthrew. The Founding Fathers drafted the Articles of Confederation. The articles were briefly used until citizens began to see its shortcomings. It was just a “firm league of friendship.” I will discuss some of the weaknesses in the Articles of the Confederation which were changed and some weaknesses in the United States Constitution.
One weakness of The Articles of the Confederation, it did not establish an executive branch for the central government. No one was able to enforce any acts passed by Congress. The Founding Fathers feared the return of monarchial tyranny they endured under the British control. With the inclusion of an executive …show more content…
The states had the right to impose taxes and raise revenue. Congress was supposed to receive its funds from the states, oftentimes these funds were not received. Congress struggled to pay off America’s debts or establish a budget for the United States. Furthermore, the economic state was in chaos because of the inability to manage trade. The lack of trade regulation meant each state had a tariff on products from other states. As the United States Constitution is written, Congress has the power to set and collect taxes and regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the states. Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the United States Constitution states, “To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes” (United States Constitution, 1787). Under this article, Congress has the power to regulate …show more content…
The judiciary branch was dependent on the states. Article IV reads, “Full faith and credit shall be given in each of these states to the records, acts and judicial proceedings of the courts and magistrates of every other state” (Articles of Confederation, 1777). In other words, the states could disregard the national laws without fear of repercussions from Congress. Furthermore, if a citizen had a complaint concerning the Congress, they would have no one to system for a lawsuit. The United States Constitution fixed this problem by placing a Supreme Court at the highest court in the nation, and lower courts created by Congress. Article III, Section 1 of the United States Constitution states, “The judicial Power of the United States, shall be bested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish…” (United States Constitution,
One weakness of The Articles of the Confederation, it did not establish an executive branch for the central government. No one was able to enforce any acts passed by Congress. The Founding Fathers feared the return of monarchial tyranny they endured under the British control. With the inclusion of an executive …show more content…
The states had the right to impose taxes and raise revenue. Congress was supposed to receive its funds from the states, oftentimes these funds were not received. Congress struggled to pay off America’s debts or establish a budget for the United States. Furthermore, the economic state was in chaos because of the inability to manage trade. The lack of trade regulation meant each state had a tariff on products from other states. As the United States Constitution is written, Congress has the power to set and collect taxes and regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the states. Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the United States Constitution states, “To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes” (United States Constitution, 1787). Under this article, Congress has the power to regulate …show more content…
The judiciary branch was dependent on the states. Article IV reads, “Full faith and credit shall be given in each of these states to the records, acts and judicial proceedings of the courts and magistrates of every other state” (Articles of Confederation, 1777). In other words, the states could disregard the national laws without fear of repercussions from Congress. Furthermore, if a citizen had a complaint concerning the Congress, they would have no one to system for a lawsuit. The United States Constitution fixed this problem by placing a Supreme Court at the highest court in the nation, and lower courts created by Congress. Article III, Section 1 of the United States Constitution states, “The judicial Power of the United States, shall be bested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish…” (United States Constitution,