Final answer:
The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution were two significant documents that played a crucial role in shaping the early United States government.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution were two significant documents that played a crucial role in shaping the early United States government.
The Articles of Confederation, created in 1777 and adopted in 1781, established a weak national government with limited powers. It reflected the belief that power should be held by the individual states rather than a central government. However, it had several weaknesses, such as the inability to levy taxes or regulate trade effectively.
In contrast, the U.S. Constitution, drafted in 1787 and ratified in 1788, aimed to create a stronger central government while still preserving the rights of individual states. It established a system of checks and balances, with three separate branches of government (legislative, executive, and judicial) to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. It also granted the federal government the power to levy taxes, regulate trade, and maintain a standing army.