A Necessary Model

In the Articles of Confederation, the power of the states was elevated over the power of the national government. The smaller states were given equal representation in Congress, irrespective of their populations. The fact that laws must be unanimously agreed to in order to pass made it difficult to change the status quo. While this solidity left Madison and Hamilton hopeless at the Annapolis Convention in 1786, it had another function the next year. By forcing the attendants of the Constitutional Convention to either commit extralegal actions to change the system or disperse in failure, the terms of interstate unanimity in the Articles of Confederation indirectly aided the progress and creation of the Constitution.

While many aspects of the Articles of Confederation were strongly despised by the 55 men who met in 1787 in the Philadelphia State House, there were some strong points that carried over to the Constitution. For instance, the interstate relationships that were enforced with the Full Faith and Credit Clause in the Constitution had a direct precursor in Article IV of the Articles of Confederation. Additionally, the ability of Congress to declare war originated in Article IX of the Articles of Confederation. Many such facets were carried over to the Constitution, and thus the Articles of Confederation served as a necessary model for basic structure of government. (Mount, 2006)

From 1781 to 1787, problems were beginning to arise in many areas of national concern, including the economy and westward expansion. These issues stemmed primarily from the fact that the creators of the Articles of Confederation were strongly driven by a desire to depart from the confines of centralized government, and thus adopted a system that empowered the states. While it would appear that this was a step backwards, it was actually a learning process that drove national leaders to later convene in Philadelphia and ultimately write the Constitution. The Articles of Confederation were a necessary step in the progression from colonialism to democracy as it is known today.