Question

Compare and contrast the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union of the States and the Constitution. Include: When was each document created? Why was a revision of the Articles considered necessary? How do both incorporate ideas of republicanism? What does each document say about slavery (even the word itself is not used)? What are the branches of government in each? Why? What do the branches do? Include a discussion of the Bill of Rights: In which document is it found? Why was it added? What does it say? Describe the First Party System: what were the parties, what were their beliefs, and what specific policies/laws did they follow that demonstrate those beliefs?

Answer 1

The articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union were agreements enacted between 1776 and 1777 by the second Continental Congress. The agreement brought together 13 original states of the United States of America, the two agreements served as the US first constitution (Maggs & Gregory., 397). The Articles of Confederation started functioning in 1781 after ratification by all involved nations, the agreement aimed at enhancing the sovereignty and independence of states. The perpetual Union recognized the US as a national entity. The perpetual agreement meant that US states were not mandated to sideline the US constitution and withdraw from the Union. The First US constitution was enacted on September 17, 1787, by America's national government and fundamental laws; it was signed by constitutional delegates in Philadelphia.

The Articles introduced a weak confederation of self-governing states and loose central government; supreme powers were left to state governments. The gap realized necessitated for stronger Federal government hence the constitutional convention of 1787 to incorporate changes (Maggs & Gregory., 397). The two agreements incorporated ideas of republicanism by allowing the states to retain all their powers and elected bodies already established in the nations. However, the Articles hindered the nations from establishing their republics. The agreements never legalized slavery and supported inhuman treatment resulting from it, however, various societies in US nations like missionaries strongly rejected slavery.

The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union rhymed with the legislature arm of government which made laws. Articles of confederation had one house which is the Congress that made laws while the constitution incorporates a bicameral form of government. The executive arm involved the law government agencies that implemented laws formulated by the legislature. The Bill of Rights is contained in the constitution; it outlines the privileges enjoyed by citizens of various nations under the union (Edling & Max., 2020). The limitation to the rights was also outlined in the Bill of rights, it was incorporated in the constitution to ensure the rights of citizens are upheld and justice is availed in instances of gross violation of other people's rights.

 First Party System was adopted in American politics to ensure continuity of the political party system was initially in the US between 1792and 1824. The two parties were Federalist Party which advocated for a strong government with a supreme executive branch and Anti-Federalist Party which believed in a weak central government (Anthony, George & Arthur). To support their beliefs federalists never advocated for the Bill of Rights since they thought the constitution was adequate to handle all challenges while anti-federalists advocated for the Bill of rights since they thought the central government would be disrespectful (Labunski & Richard., 2006). Federalists also had beliefs that division of powers among three branches of government enhanced the protection of human rights while anti-federalists had beliefs that without a bill of rights oppression would be evidenced from the government and hence behaved oppositely.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union were agreements enacted between 1776 and 1777 by the second Continental Congress.