How did the U.S. Constitution replace the Articles of Confederation?

The U.S. Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation because the latter proved unworkable as a governing document. While the Articles established a confederation of sovereign states, they failed to grant the central government essential powers, such as the authority to levy taxes or regulate interstate commerce.12

In 1787, delegates gathered at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, ostensibly to amend the Articles. However, faced with severe economic instability and events like Shays’s Rebellion, the delegates discarded the idea of simple amendments and instead drafted an entirely new framework for government.13

This new Constitution created a stronger federal system with a separation of powers and checks and balances to protect liberty while ensuring effective governance. After being signed by 39 delegates, the document was ratified by the states, with the Federalist papers playing a key role in defending the new system against the weaknesses of the previous confederation.14