Final answer:
The Articles of Confederation created a weaker federal government, emphasizing state sovereignty. The U.S. Constitution addressed this by establishing a stronger federal government with the power to tax, regulate commerce, and a president and federal courts system to manage national affairs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Compared to the Constitution, the Articles of Confederation created a weaker federal government and left the states free to make decisions for themselves. Under the Articles of Confederation, the federal government was significantly weaker than the states, which had a high degree of sovereignty.
Several crucial changes were made to strengthen the role of the federal government with the adoption of the U.S. Constitution. A president was established to oversee both domestic and foreign policy, a system of federal courts was created to settle disputes, and mechanisms for a more centralized economic policy were established. Additionally, the new constitution provided for a stronger central legislative body with the ability to tax and regulate commerce, powers which the national government did not possess under the Articles.
This transition from a confederation to a federal system of governance was critical in addressing issues such as trade disputes between states, servicing the war debt, and effectively handling popular uprisings, such as Shays' Rebellion. The resulting federal constitution struck a balance between a strong national government and the preservation of state powers, striving for a 'more perfect union' as stated in its preamble.