TOPIC #5 — THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

The Articles of Confederation were the first “constitution” of the United States. They were in effect from 1781 until the ratification of the Constitution of the United States and the establishment of the new federal government in the Spring of 1789.

Q1:     What are the essential similarities and differences between the Articles of Confederation and the subsequent Constitution?

Q2:     More generally, what are the different kinds of unions that can be formed among heretofore independent states? And more particularly, what are the essential differences between a confederal union and a federal union (as these terms are now used)?

Q3:     How can the social contract theory of Hobbes and Locke be applied to constitution-making and the formation of larger governmental unions?

colonial ⇒ state governments

Continental Congress ⇒ Articles of Confederation

Consolidation Dimension

                     |                               |                               |                               | 

              anarchic                confederal              federal                 unitary

anarchic system 

confederal system

                                          delegated vs. reserved powers

federal system

unitary system

confederal vs. federal system

          manner of representation ("government by the states")

          manner of exercising delegated powers ("government of the states”)