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Articles Of Confederation Strengths And Weaknesses

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A strong foundation is what every nation needs. To build something strong and lasting, it is important to put time and effort into its structure and values. The new constitution of America is more stable and stronger than the Articles of Confederation. At a time when the states were very much divided in many matters, the constitution allowed for a unified nation under one strong central government. Drafting the constitution was a continued matter. Compromising was crucial. The individual states, and opposing parties such as the federalists and antifederalists had to work together for the progression of the country. The Articles of Confederation had an unfit ratio of strengths to weaknesses. One of the main weaknesses was an excessively restricted …show more content…

Each state would have two representatives in the upper house, and its representation in the lower house would be determined by its population (Dun et al., 2017). This proposal was key to moving on with the constitution. It offered both sides a fair solution regarding their representation in congress. Another issue was slavery. The "free" states in which slavery was prohibited wanted to see slavery gone for good. These states included New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, which mainly functioned through industrials means such as mills and …show more content…

Opposing them were the antifederalists (Howard, 2017). This side did not want a strong federal government and was against the ratification of the constitution. They preferred each state to hold most of its own power and feared that a strong federal government would threaten individual freedoms (Dun et. al, 2017). James Winthrop did not want the federal government to hold power over commerce, based on A History of U.S. Political System: Ideas, Interests, and Institutions, James Winthrop proposed how states had demonstrated its advantages and different interests. In this way one state could help each other’s wants… Carolina, for instance, is inhabited by planters, while Massachusetts is more engaged in commerce and manufactures. Congress has the power of deciding their differences. The friendliest intercourse may therefore be established between them. A diversity of produce, wants and interests, produces commerce; and commerce, where there is a common, equal and moderate authority to preside, produces friendship. (p.

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