Articles of Confederation and Constitution Addressed a

Articles of Confederation and Constitution Constitution addressed a number of complaints listed in the Declaration of Independence against Great Britain's King. In addition, the Constitution cured a number of weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation by giving powers, rights and divisions to the federal government, as well as providing a different method of amending the Constitution.

At times, the Constitution was developed through compromises such as the Great Compromise, which set up our bicameral federal government and the manner of determining each state's representation in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Through these historical documents and others, we can see the ideas and development of the United States of America.

Body How the Constitution addressed the Complaints in the Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence, finalized on July 4, 1776, was our announcement to Great Britain and to the world of our freedom from Great Britain. In the document's third section, the American colonists present a long list of specific complaints or grievances against Great Britain and particularly her King, explaining the reasons for our rejection of their rule over us (United States of America, 1776).

The United States Constitution, ratified on March 4, 1789, addressed those specific complaints in its Articles and Bill of Rights (United States of America, 1789) to ensure that our government and our citizens would be free from those oppressive practices. For example, the Declaration of Independence states that the King forced the colonists to quarter British troops (United States of America, 1776); therefore, the Constitution's 3rd Amendment and its ban of using troops to carry out civilian law would prevent that practice in the United States of America.

For another example, the Declaration of Independence complained that the King imposed taxes on the colonists without their consent (United States of America, 1776); therefore, the Constitution's Article I sets up the circumstances and process for taxation by Congress, preventing taxation without representation (United States of America, 1789). For a third example, the Declaration of Independence complained that the King repeatedly dissolved our representative houses (United States of America, 1776); therefore, the Constitution's Article I created our Congress and enumerated its powers in Section 8 (United States of America, 1789).

For a fourth example, the Declaration of Independence complained that the King "has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good" (United States of America, 1776); therefore, the Constitution's Article I, Section 7 specifically explains how laws will be passed, how each House of Congress and the President will participate in passing those laws, the requirement that the laws must be passed by both Houses of Congress, and about the President's signing of those laws (United States of America, 1789).

The Constitution, as the supreme law of the United States of America, addressed and remedied each of the King's actions that the colonists complained about in the Declaration of Independence. b. How the Constitution addressed the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation The Articles of Confederation were ratified on March 1, 1781 as essentially the first constitution of the United States (United States of America, 1781). There were many weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation in that they did not give sufficient powers to the federal government.

These weaknesses were addressed and solved by the U.S. Constitution, ratified on March 4, 1789. For example, the Articles did not set up an executive branch; therefore, the Constitution's Article II, Section 1 created the offices of the President and Vice President, explaining that they must hold office for a term of four years (United States of America, 1789).

For another example, the Articles did not give the government power to tax or regulate commerce; therefore, the Constitution's Article I, Section 8 gave congress the power to set taxes and collect them, and to regulate commerce among the states and with foreign nations (United States of America, 1789). For a third example, the Articles did not establish federal courts; therefore, the Constitution's Article III, Sections 1 and 2 created a federal court system with the Supreme Court and "inferior" courts (United States of America, 1789).

For a fourth example, the Articles required a unanimous vote to amend the Articles; therefore, the Constitution's Article V gave the process for amending the Constitution, requiring in part a 2/3 vote of approval by both Congressional Houses to propose an amendment and ae vote of approval by state legislatures to ratify an amendment (United States of America, 1789).

For a fifth example, the Articles did not give the federal government power to control the military; therefore, the Constitution's Article I, Section 8 gave Congress the power to create, support and make rules for an army and navy (United States of America, 1789). In sum, the Constitution "cured" the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation by setting up specific powers, rights and divisions in the federal government. c.

What the Great Compromise was and how Representation of States in Congress is Determined The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was approved on July 16, 1787 during a Constitutional Convention and solved a dispute between larger and smaller states about how representation of each state in Congress would be determined. The Virginia Plan, which was backed by states with larger populations, proposed that each state's population would determine the number of representatives the state could have in the federal government.

The New Jersey Plan, which was backed by states with smaller populations, proposed that each state would have the same number of representatives in the federal government, regardless of population.

Two Connecticut delegates named Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth proposed a compromise: our federal legislature could have two houses, the Senate and House of Representatives; the Senate would have 2 representatives from each state, regardless of population; however, each state would have a number of representatives in the House of Representatives based on that state's population, with more populous states having more representatives than less populous states (Winkler, 2000, pp. 521, 543, 883). d. Purpose and Methods of Amendment The U.S.

Constitution was written at a specific place and time; however, the Founding Fathers thought of the Constitution as a living document for a nation that could last far into the future. They could not foresee all future possibilities that might affect the nation but needed to somehow provide for them; therefore, they made provisions for amending the Constitution to adapt to changing circumstances that might occur in the future. The Constitution's Article V gives the process for amending the Constitution.

Amendments can be proposed either by 2/3 vote of approval both Houses of Congress or by a convention for proposing amendments by 2/3 vote of approval by the states' legislatures. Proposed amendments are then ratified by either ae vote of approval by the states' legislatures or by ae vote of their convention for amendment, according to whichever method is proposed by Congress. Upon ratification, the amendments become part of the Constitution. A ratified amendment can be removed or changed only by ratification of another amendment.

In addition, some limitations were placed on amending the Constitution:.