Arguably, the Article of Confederation is taken to be the first constitution in the United States. The Continental Congress adopted the Article of Confederation in the year 1777. This was ratified in 1781 by 13 original states. As a matter of fact, the Constitution replaced the Article of Confederation. Perhaps, there are various significant differences between the Constitution and Article of Confederation. Undeniably, the Article of Confederation and the constitution were equally important, especially in maintaining free government that was away from the oppression and pressures of the colonies. Generally, if I lived during these periods I would support the constitution, rather than the Article of Confederation (Cohen & Kennedy, 2012).
Conversably, the philosophical issues of the Article of Confederations to develop confederation of states that kept its own sovereignty, interdependence, and freedom. Additionally, it kept every right, jurisdiction, and powers of which it was not delegated to congress assemble. Hence, the Article of Confederation separated people from the state. The fact that every state was independent developed a barrier towards achieving the ultimate goal (Cohen & Kennedy, 2012). The United States was served the general welfare issues, security as well as liberties. The Article kept the national government at the weakest level. Moreover, the Article of Confederation weakened the congress in terms of tax, as well as powers to regulate interstate and foreign commerce. They also did not offer financial support to the national government. In every nation, economic stability is very crucial, but, the Article of Confederation did not focus in the provision of a stable economy. The constitution could be the best option because it promoted unity among all the States. It also improved national unity, credibility, and strength (Cohen & Kennedy, 2012).
Those individuals who write the constitution were in most cases property owners, wealthy as well as influential men of their time. These factors posed a lot of questions on whether the constitution is truly a democratic document. Many people may thing that the constitution is one of the democratic document that was written with exemplary democratic rights (Murphy, 2007). This is not actually true, based on the fact that property owners were part of those who wrote the constitution, it prohibited those individuals who did not own property from voting. Therefore, it did not present the qualities of a democratic constitution. Additionally, the writers of the constitution discriminate in terms of color; in that, black men and women had no chance to make national choices. The rich and other influential individuals modified the constitution to suit their interest. The constitution was written in a way that the poor had no right to vote, meaning the rich and powerful elected themselves. This did not reflect the will of the people. Hence, the constitution was not democratic in nature.
Furthermore, the constitution gave the powerful, rich and influential people a chance to control political and economic progress. The constitution was certainly written in a way that it developed capitalism. This system was hostile and sympathetic to the poor people, as well as adopting policies that had negative impacts on the middle class. Basically, the constitution is not truly a democratic document (Murphy, 2007). The constitution does not uphold to the issues of social equality; this is because it did not have Black-American rights. The women also have no equal chance in political; arena and in the military. Perhaps, the government and legislature demonstrate some aspects of nondemocracy. Whereby, it advocated for one vote in every state regardless of its size. Generally, the writing of the constitution should be done professionals from all class in society. Moreover, it should adhere to the public opinion.
References
Cohen, L & Kennedy, D. (2012). The American Pageant. Boston: Wadsworth
Murphy, W. (2007). Constitution Democracy: Creating and maintaining a Just Political Order.
Maryland: The John Hopkins Press
