Final answer:
The decision to abandon the Articles of Confederation was due to their inherent weaknesses, including the lack of a strong federal government and the inability to adapt to changing needs. The new United States Constitution, ratified in 1788, provided a stronger national framework while respecting states' rights and balancing powers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Framers of the American Constitution decided to abandon the Articles of Confederation in favor of a new Constitution due to the Articles' significant weaknesses. Issues such as the lack of a strong central government to defend the nation from foreign attacks, the inability to maintain harmony among the states, and the absence of a capacity to amend the Articles without unanimous consent were central concerns. The Articles of Confederation made the federal government so weak that it could not effectively unite the thirteen states into a single nation.
In the face of economic distress, the threats of disunion, as well as internal rebellions such as Shays' Rebellion, nationally-minded leaders convened at the Philadelphia Convention in 1787. Their original intent to revise the Articles shifted towards creating a new federal constitution that could balance the power of the central government with the rights of the states. A new system was introduced that could be amended as needed, reflecting the ability to adapt over time, a feature that was missing under the Articles.
Rather than a complete departure from past governance, the Constitution drew inspiration from both the British governmental model and the Articles, aiming for a middle ground that respected state sovereignty while establishing a more effective national governance structure. The United States Constitution was finally ratified in 1788, establishing the framework for a more perfect union as envisioned by the Framers.