Disagreements on the Changing of the Articles of Confederation Consisted of

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• January 1, 2022

The Articles of Confederation served as the first constitution of the United States, adopted in 1777 during the American Revolution. However, it became apparent that the Articles were inadequate in providing a unified government, leading to the drafting of the Constitution in 1787. But what specifically were the disagreements surrounding the changing of the Articles of Confederation?

One major issue was the balance of power between the national government and the states. Under the Articles, the states held a majority of the power and the national government had limited authority. This led to difficulties in raising revenue and regulating trade, among other issues. Some argued for a stronger national government to address these problems, while others feared that such a government would be too powerful and infringe on the rights of the states.

Another point of contention was the issue of representation in Congress. The Articles provided for a unicameral legislature, where each state had one vote regardless of population size. This led to conflicts between larger and smaller states, with the latter feeling that their voices were not being heard. The proposed Constitution included a bicameral legislature, with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate.

There were also disagreements over how to address the issue of slavery. Many northern states wanted slavery to be abolished, while southern states relied heavily on slave labor for their economies. The final Constitution included compromises such as the Three-Fifths Compromise, which counted each slave as three-fifths of a person for representation purposes.

Despite these and other disagreements, the delegates at the Constitutional Convention ultimately agreed on a new framework for government that addressed many of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution has now been in effect for over two centuries and has been amended several times, but its basic principles remain the foundation of American democracy to this day.