What are the differences between the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution?

The main
difference between the Articles of Confederation and the US Constitution lies in the style of
government detailed in each documentthe difference is between a centralized and a decentralized
style of government. The Articles of Confederation were created to support a decentralized style
of government, where government power was exercised largely through states rather than through
federal government. Under the Articles of Confederation, the federal government was a weak form
of government that had very little power over the sovereign states of the country. The federal
government largely existed as a system in which state representatives met to make
decisions.

In contrast, the US Constitution is a document that describes a
union of states under a centralized federal government. This style of government allows for less
sovereign power among states. The federal government can create and enforce laws and make
decisions that affect all fifty states, such as levying federal taxes.