Strengths and Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Mrs. Kennedy
Civics Period 4
January 12, 2014
Strengths and Weakness of the Articles of Confederation
The Constitution of the United States of America was framed in part by The Articles of
Confederation. The Articles could be considered to be a precursor to The Constitution, and in fact it was. Despite their differences, they also have a lot of similarities. The Continental Congress convened several times; the most well-known almost certainly being the Second Continental Congress meeting to declare independence from Great Britain on the 4th of July, 1776. The following year, The Articles of Confederation were approved by Congress and the Second Continental Congress became Congress of the Confederation on November 15th, 1777- well over a year after the Declaration of Independence. This was during the last stages of the American Revolution. Combat during the revolution did not end until October of 1781 at Yorktown. Even then the British still occupied New York City while peace terms were being negotiated with Great Britain. Despite the remarkable circumstances under which the forbearers of the country known today as the USA joined together, they all had different ideologies and political differences. The founding of the nation was not as simple as many believe, it was a very tumultuous time regarding not just the war for independence but politics as well were extremely volatile and sometimes in fact violent themselves. Under The Articles of Confederation, the legislature was set up in a very different way than the one Americans have been familiar with for centuries. In the Articles, there was what was known as a Congress. What’s the difference between Congress of then and The Congress of now? There are many, some profound and others simple. At first glance the most obvious difference is that under the Articles, the legislative branch has only one body: thus being ‘a Congress’. Most children learn in elementary school about the branches of
Civics Period 4
January 12, 2014
Strengths and Weakness of the Articles of Confederation
The Constitution of the United States of America was framed in part by The Articles of
Confederation. The Articles could be considered to be a precursor to The Constitution, and in fact it was. Despite their differences, they also have a lot of similarities. The Continental Congress convened several times; the most well-known almost certainly being the Second Continental Congress meeting to declare independence from Great Britain on the 4th of July, 1776. The following year, The Articles of Confederation were approved by Congress and the Second Continental Congress became Congress of the Confederation on November 15th, 1777- well over a year after the Declaration of Independence. This was during the last stages of the American Revolution. Combat during the revolution did not end until October of 1781 at Yorktown. Even then the British still occupied New York City while peace terms were being negotiated with Great Britain. Despite the remarkable circumstances under which the forbearers of the country known today as the USA joined together, they all had different ideologies and political differences. The founding of the nation was not as simple as many believe, it was a very tumultuous time regarding not just the war for independence but politics as well were extremely volatile and sometimes in fact violent themselves. Under The Articles of Confederation, the legislature was set up in a very different way than the one Americans have been familiar with for centuries. In the Articles, there was what was known as a Congress. What’s the difference between Congress of then and The Congress of now? There are many, some profound and others simple. At first glance the most obvious difference is that under the Articles, the legislative branch has only one body: thus being ‘a Congress’. Most children learn in elementary school about the branches of