Why was the decision to create a new Constitution instead of amending the Articles of Confederation significant for the United States?
Asked by: Dr. Damien Carroll | Last update: February 11, 2026Score: 4.1/5 (27 votes)
The decision to create a new Constitution instead of amending the Articles of Confederation was significant because the Articles created a weak, ineffective central government unable to tax, regulate commerce, or enforce laws, threatening national collapse; the new Constitution established a stronger federal system with separation of powers, federalism, and specific powers (like taxing and raising an army), enabling a stable, unified nation with effective governance and economic stability, thus transforming the U.S. from a loose confederation into a lasting republic.
Why did we need a constitution instead of amending the Articles of Confederation?
With the passage of time, weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation became apparent; Congress commanded little respect and no support from state governments anxious to maintain their power. Congress could not raise funds, regulate trade, or conduct foreign policy without the voluntary agreement of the states.
Why is the new constitution better than the Articles of Confederation?
Ultimately, the largest difference between America's two governing documents is in that the Articles sovereignty resided in the states, and the Constitution was declared the law of the land when it was ratified which significantly increased the power of the federal government.
Why did the states decide to create a government to replace the Articles of Confederation?
These problems, combined with the Confederation government's ineffectual response to Shays' Rebellion in Massachusetts, convinced national leaders that a more powerful central government was necessary. This led to the Constitutional Convention that formulated the current Constitution of the United States.
Why was the process to change or amend the Articles of Confederation a significant challenge?
The requirements for passing measures were quite high: nine of the thirteen states had to approve a measure for it to pass. Amending the Articles themselves was even harder: all thirteen had to vote in favor of a change.
The ARTICLES of CONFEDERATION, Explained [AP Government Foundational Documents]
Why couldn't the Articles of Confederation be amended?
Not only did all amendments have to be ratified by each of the thirteen states, but all important legislation needed the approval of nine states. With several delegations often absent, one or two states were able to defeat legislative proposals of major importance.
Why is it so difficult to amend the US Constitution?
The amendment process is very difficult and time consuming: A proposed amendment must be passed by two-thirds of both houses of Congress, then ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states. The ERA Amendment did not pass the necessary majority of state legislatures in the 1980s.
When did the US Constitution replace the Articles of Confederation?
The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777. This document served as the United States' first constitution. It was in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789 when the present-day Constitution went into effect.
What was the main reason the Articles of Confederation were replaced as the basis of the United States government?
The Articles of Confederation were replaced because they established a weak federal government that could not effectively govern, leading to issues such as Shays' Rebellion. The Constitutional Convention in 1787 resulted in the drafting of a new Constitution to provide a stronger national framework.
Why did the federalists want to replace the Articles of Confederation with a new Constitution?
The Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation were: Each state only had one vote in Congress, regardless of size. Congress didn't have the power to tax, or to regulate foreign and interstate commerce. There was no executive branch to enforce any acts passed by Congress.
Why was the government more effective under the US Constitution than it was under the Articles of Confederation?
But the Articles of Confederation were weak and defective: The primary problem was a powerless federal authority, a government that was more like a union of independent nations than a single, unified country. Instead of a strong, peaceful country, the states fought one another with limited respect for the rule of law.
How many states needed to agree on the change of the Articles of Confederation?
Confederation Congress
The Congress had difficulty legislating as the Articles required nine of the thirteen states to vote to approve any measure, and a unanimous vote in order to amend the Articles themselves.
What was the biggest problem with the Articles?
One of the central weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation was its lack of a strong central government, which severely hampered the United States' ability to conduct foreign affairs effectively. The Articles granted Congress the authority to negotiate treaties, declare war, and manage foreign relations.
What was the US called before 1776?
Before 1776, the land that became the United States was known as British America, a collection of distinct colonies, often called the "United Colonies" (or "United Colonies of North America") by the colonists themselves, who identified more with their specific colony than a unified nation. The name "United States of America" first appeared in the Declaration of Independence in July 1776, officially adopted by the Second Continental Congress in September 1776.
Why was it very difficult to get laws passed under the Articles of Confederation?
Each state had one vote in the Congress, regardless of its population. The Congress had difficulty legislating as the Articles required nine of the thirteen states to vote to approve any measure, and a unanimous vote in order to amend the Articles themselves.
Why did the founding fathers create a Constitution?
The Framers of the Constitution wanted to make sure that each branch of government was balanced so that no one part of government could dominate the other. To achieve this goal, the Constitution provides “checks and balances” among the three branches.
What was the main reason that led to the failure of the Articles of Confederation?
In short, it was a lack of economic unity that brought about many of America's economic woes during the years under the Articles of Confederation. Congress had few effective means to enforce its laws, raise revenue, or regulate the economy.
Who believed that the Articles of Confederation needed to be replaced?
Federalists, including James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, advocated for a completely new government under the United States Constitution. They rejected the Articles of Confederation as a weak governing document that needed fully replaced.
Why did America's founders decide to replace the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution?
One of the reasons why the states decided to change the Articles of Confederation was because many Americans got worried that, after the Shay Rebellion and without a strong government, the nation will not survive the next uprising.
Why were the Articles of Confederation replaced with the Constitution Quizlet?
Without a centralized power, there was no national currency, few national laws, and no national army. This system proved ineffective, so the Constitution was created. Under the Constitution, stability and unity increased in the new nation.
Could the Articles of Confederation be amended?
The Articles required unanimous consent to any amendment, so all 13 states would need to agree on a change. Given the rivalries between the states, that rule made the Articles impossible to adapt after the war ended with Britain in 1783.
Why were the Articles of Confederation replaced with the Constitution brainly?
The Articles of Confederation were replaced because they did not provide the federal government with sufficient power to function effectively, which led to various issues such as economic instability and the inability to enforce laws.
Why is the Constitution not updated?
The Framers intended for it to undergo amendment as required to maintain the spirit of the Revolution and to prevent the recurrence of the weaknesses that saddled our government under the Articles of Confederation. Yet, amending the Constitution has become nearly impossible in our current political environment.
Why do we need to amend the Constitution?
Constitutions need to be amended over time to adjust provisions that are inadequate, to respond to new needs, including supplementing rights. Otherwise, the text of a constitution cannot reflect social realities and political needs over time.