Articles of Confederation vs.

Constitution
Analysis
Objective What kind of government was set up by the Articles of Confederation? How
does this compare to the US Constitution?

Directions: Analyze the timeline below to understand the historical context for the Articles of Confederation, Federalist
Papers, and US Constitution. Answer the analysis questions that follow.

1786 - 1787: Shay’s Rebellion: series of rebellions

across the country led by American farmers against
state and local enforcement of tax collections, proved
that the Articles of Confederation were a weak form
of government.
1781: Revolutionary
War ends, Articles of
Confederation are
1776: Declaration ratified by all 13
of Independence states 1787: US Constitution
written

1777: Articles of
1775: Confederation 1789: US Constitution
American written, sent to the ratified (passed) by all
revolutionary states for approval 1788: Federalist papers written to 13 states - remains
War Begins promote ratifying the US intact today
Constitution c

Analysis Questions:

1) According to this timeline, which event proved that the Articles of Confederation were weak?
1786 - 1787: Shay’s Rebellion

2) According to the information provided in this timeline, make an inference as to whether or not the
following statement is true or false: The US Constitution provided America with a stronger government
than the Articles of Confederation. True
 Comparing Articles of Confederation and the US Constitution
Directions: Compare the Articles of Confederation and US Constitution by reading six different excerpts and
answering the analysis questions that follow.

Defining the Union

Articles of Confederation Constitution

1 Article I. The site of this confederacy shall be 1 Preamble: We the People of the United States, in
2 “The United States of America”. 2 Order to form a more perfect Union, establish
3 3 Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for
4 Article II. Each state retains its sovereignty 4 the common defence, promote the general
5 [supreme power, authority], freedom and 5 Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to
6 independence, and every power, jurisdiction and 6 ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and
7 right... 7 establish this Constitution for the United States of
8 8 America.
9 Article III. The said states hereby severally enter 9
10 into a firm league of friendship with each other,
11 for their common defence, the security of their
12 Liberties, and their mutual and general welfare,
13 binding themselves to assist each other, against
14 all force offered to, or attacks made upon them,
15 or any of them, on account of religion,
16 sovereignty, trade, or any other pretence
17 whatever.

Analysis Questions:

1) Close Reading: What does the phrase “firm league of friendship” (ln. 10) suggest to you about the relationship
that states in the union will have with one another under the Articles of Confederation?
It is stated that the firm league of friendship states that the states will have common defense, share the security of
their Liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist each other, against all force
offered to, or attacks made upon them, or any of them, on account of religion, sovereignty, trade, or any other
pretense whatever

2) Analysis: Which document seems to emphasize the individual power of states?

` The Articles of Confederation

3) Analysis: Which document seems to emphasize a unified national identity?

The constitution
 Structures of Congress

Articles of Confederation Constitution

1 Article V. For the more convenient management 1 Article I - Section I: All legislative Powers
2 of the general interests of the United States, 2 herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of
3 delegates shall be annually appointed in such 3 the United States, which shall consist of a Senate
4 manner as the legislature of each state shall direct, 4 and House of Representatives.
5 to meet in one house of Congress… No State shall 5 Article I - Section II: The House of
6 be represented in Congress by less than two, nor 6 Representatives shall be composed of Members
7 by more than seven Members.... In determining 7 chosen every second Year by the People…
8 questions in the United States, in Congress 8 Representatives….shall be apportioned among
9 assembled, each state shall have one vote. 9 the several States which may be included within
10 10 this Union, according to their respective
11 11 Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to
12 the whole Number of free Persons, including
13 those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and
14 excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all
15 other Persons… the number of representatives
16 per state shall not exceed one per 30,000...
17 Article I - Section III: The Senate of the United
18 States shall be composed of two Senators from
19 each State... for six Years; and each Senator shall
20 have one vote
21
22

Analysis Questions:

1) Analysis: How is the structure of Congress different under the Articles of Confederation & the Constitution? In
the articles of confederation each state shall have no more than 7 representatives but no less than 2, in the
constitution it states that there number of representatives per state should not have more than one person for each
30,000 people living in that state

Executive & Judicial Branch

Constitution
Article II
1 Section I - The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall
2 hold his Office during the Term of four Years…
3 Section II - The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and
4 of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States…He shall
5 have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties
6
7

Article III
1 Section I - The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme court…

Analysis Questions:

1) Close Reading: According to line 1 of article II section I, what power does the Constitution grant the President?
What does this imply to you or tell you about his role in government? The presedent is allowed to stay in office
for two 4 year terms(8 years in total)

2) Analysis: The Articles of Confederation does not specify or establish an executive branch. Instead, the same
powers listed in Article II of the Constitution are almost all granted to Congress (made up of representatives of the
states), including command of the army & the power to make treaties. What does that suggest the Articles of
Confederation values: state's rights or federal power? federal power

3) Close Reading: According to Article III of the Constitution, where does the judicial power of the United States
lie? The supreme court

4) Analysis: The Articles of Confederation does not specify or establish a judicial branch. Instead, the states each
establish and maintain their own courts, individually. What are the advantages of having one supreme court, as
established by Article III of the Constitution, instead of having each state have its own court or legal system? It is
unelected meaning that it can safely practice the law without being swayed by public opinion

Taxes

Articles of Confederation Constitution

1 Article VIII. All charges of war, and all other 1 Article I - Section VIII: The Congress shall have
 2 expenses that shall be incurred for the common 2 Power To lay and collect Taxes….and Excises
3 defence or general welfare, shall be defrayed out 3 [tax on goods], to pay the Debts and provide for
4 of a common treasury, which shall be supplied by 4 the common Defence and general Welfare of the
5 the several states, in proportion to the value of all 5 United States; but all Duties [taxes]...and Excises
6 land within each state, granted to or surveyed for 6 [tax on goods] shall be uniform throughout the
7 any person, as such land and the buildings and 7 United States
8 improvements thereon shall be estimated, 8
9 according to such mode as the United States, in
10 Congress assembled, shall, from time to time,
11 direct and appoint. The taxes for paying that
12 proportion shall be laid and levied by the
13 authority and direction of the legislatures of the
14 several states....
15

Analysis Questions:

1) Analysis: What is different about the system for collecting taxes under the Articles of Confederation as compared
to the Constitution? The Articles of confederation collects different amounts of taxes for each state depending on
the land but the constitution collects the same amount from each state

2) Analysis: Which system for tax collection suggests that all states are equally important to the union? The
Constitution

3) Analysis: Which system for tax collection supports the idea that some states are worth more than other states?
The articles of confederation

Amendments

Articles of Confederation Constitution

1 Article XIII. Every State shall abide by the 1 The Congress, whenever two thirds of both
 2 determinations of the United States, in Congress 2 Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose
3 assembled, on all questions which by this 3 Amendments to this Constitution….shall be valid
4 confederation are submitted to them. And the 4 to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this
5 articles of this confederation shall be inviolably 5 Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of
6 observed by every state, and the union shall be 6 three fourths of the several States…..
7 perpetual; nor shall any alteration at any time 7
8 hereafter be made in any of them, unless such
9 alteration be agreed to in a Congress of the
10 United States, and be afterwards confirmed by
11 the legislatures of every state in the union.
12

Analysis Questions:

1) Close Reading: According to line 12, how many states have to agree to any changes or amendments made to the
Articles of Confederation? All states in the union have to agree

2) Analysis: Which process for Amendments creates a more flexible governing structure? The constitution because
in the articles of confederation all states have to agree and in the consitution only 3/4ths of each state has to agree.