The Articles of Confederation, the first United States constitution, are notorious for creating a weak and ineffectual federal government, hobbled by the virtual independence of most of its member states. Ultimately, they were entirely replaced by the current United States Constitution, which has served fairly well for the past two hundred years (and a bit).
Could, however, this have been avoided? What changes in the original Articles of Confederation--not, I must note, in the 1780s--might have allowed the Articles to carry on more or less indefinitely, occasionally amended but never superseded by a new constitution? In other words, what changes to the original Articles, as dispatched in 1777, might have led to their being effective, or at least effective enough to not be wholly discarded?
Could, however, this have been avoided? What changes in the original Articles of Confederation--not, I must note, in the 1780s--might have allowed the Articles to carry on more or less indefinitely, occasionally amended but never superseded by a new constitution? In other words, what changes to the original Articles, as dispatched in 1777, might have led to their being effective, or at least effective enough to not be wholly discarded?