How was the U.S. Constitution different from the Articles of Confederation?
The U.S. Constitution set up the first form of government for the newly independent United States.
The U.S. Constitution allowed for each state to have an equal vote in Congress regardless of size or population.
The U.S. Constitution separated powers between the judicial, legislative, and executive branches.
The U.S. Constitution had only one branch, a unicameral legislature that had limited power.
The U.S. Constitution created a stronger central government with more power than under the Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation established a weak central government that did not have the authority to enforce laws or collect taxes. In contrast, the Constitution granted the federal government the power to levy taxes, regulate commerce, and maintain a standing army.
The Constitution also introduced a system of checks and balances, dividing power among three separate branches of government: the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. This was in contrast to the Articles of Confederation, which had a unicameral legislature with limited powers and no separate branches of government.
Moreover, the Constitution allowed for proportional representation in the legislative branch, with the number of seats in Congress based on a state's population. This replaced the equal representation that each state had under the Articles of Confederation, where each state had a single vote regardless of its size or population.
Overall, the Constitution provided a more effective and stable framework for governing the newly established United States, addressing the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation and creating a stronger central government while still preserving individual rights and liberties.