State Constitutions and the Articles of Confederation
What major characteristics of state constitutions were shared by the Articles of Confederation and how did they reflect the colonial and revolutionary experiences?
Both state constitutions and the Articles of Confederation shared some common characteristics. Each had a congress whose members were elected by popular vote. Suffrage was extended to as many men as possible. Not only the landowning gentlemen could vote, but also the people who paid taxes were allowed to vote for their representatives. Congress decided issues on the economy, tax action, and laws that would benefit the general people. However, the states had the final say on what taxes would be followed. It was difficult for the confederation to raise taxes. For example, in the states, the artisan and farmers who made up the majority of the elected body, at times refused to be taxed. In the Confederation, the same held true for the states. It could only requisition supplies and monies from the states. They had no actual power to force the states to comply.
The major characteristics of state constitutions were based on the idea that every citizen who supported the rebellion had “an equal claim to all privileges, liberties and immunities.” The majority of state constitutions provided a bicameral legislature whose members were elected by the peoples popular vote. The state constitutions had a central government with limited powers. With the Articles of the Confederation, each state retained its owned sovereignty, freedom, and independence. Both the state constitutions and the Articles of Confederation had a vote in congress by each state regardless of population.