Compare and contrast the Articles of Confederation and the US Constitution of 1787.

Candidates will give an account of the similarities and differences of the specific characteristics of the Articles and the Constitution referring to both throughout. They may, for example, choose to address the comparisons and contrasts in discrete groups, or they may choose to focus on individual arguments. For comparisons, candidates might explain that both documents established a government for the United States. Both created a Congress, a method for passing legislation, for making amendments, for regulating foreign affairs, declaring war, establishing a post office and
administering Indian relations. Both divided power between the states and the national government. For differences, the Articles had only a unicameral legislative branch of government, while the Constitution had three branches: a bicameral legislature, a judicial and an executive. The federal government was stronger, could pass taxes, regulate interstate commerce and raise an army. Candidates might also discuss the relative ineffectiveness of the Articles when compared to the Constitution.