Interactive picture: the powers Congress held under the Articles of Confederation of 1781 compared with the Constitution of 1787, the bargains that paid for the change, and the road from independence to ratification

In 1781 Congress could declare war but could not collect a single tax

The Articles of Confederation gave the new republic the grand powers and none of the practical ones: Congress could make war and peace, but it had to beg the states for money and could not make anyone obey. By 1787 unpaid debts, a half-honoured Treaty of Paris and Shays' Rebellion had shown what that cost. Switch from the Articles to the Constitution and watch which three powers the centre gains, and what the slaveholding states are promised in return.

Congress and the states
Articles of Confederation
Switch between 1781 and 1787. Watch both columns and the year marker.
Which founding document?
Congress holds 3 of 6 powers · no slavery clauses
Powers gained since 1781
0
Slavery clauses
0
The road from war to ratification

Know This

The Constitution of 1787 gave Congress the power to tax, regulate commerce and enforce its laws, and paid for it with the Great Compromise and three slavery clauses.