United States Constitution, the Articles of Confederation, the Declaration of Independence, and the Great Compromise

The Articles of Confederation was the first document attempting to govern how the newly independent states were to act together in their union. However, the Articles of Confederation had significant flaws that rendered them an unrealistic tool for the government of the new states. While not all inclusive, the following are some of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation: the federal government could not tax or regulate foreign and interstate commerce; each state had a single vote in Congress; there were no federal Executive or Judicial branches; Amendments required a unanimous vote; and a significant majority (9 of 13 votes) was required to pass legislation. The result of the Articles of Confederation was that the states engaged in constant bickering, which could not be resolved by the Federal government. The states failed to provide...
[ View Full Essay]