Two important differences between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution are:
- Power of the Central Government :
- The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government that lacked essential powers such as the ability to tax, regulate interstate commerce, or enforce laws. Congress under the Articles could only request funds from states and could not regulate trade between states.
- The Constitution established a stronger federal government with clearly defined powers, including the authority to levy taxes, regulate interstate commerce, and enforce laws. It created a balanced federal system with powers divided between the national government and the states
- Structure of Government and Representation :
- Under the Articles, there was a unicameral legislature (Congress) where each state had one vote regardless of population, and there were no separate executive or judicial branches.
- The Constitution created a more complex government structure with three separate branches: executive (President), legislative (bicameral Congress with the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate with equal representation for states), and judicial. This separation of powers and bicameral legislature balanced state sovereignty with popular representation
These differences reflect a shift from a loose alliance of sovereign states under the Articles to a unified nation with a strong, adaptable federal government under the Constitution.
