The United States under the Articles of Confederation was bankrupt. The last navy ship was sold in 1785. The Marine Corps was disbanded and the 500 man army (located at its one post) was near mutiny.
After only 4 years of operation of the Constitution (and the revenue gained from protective tariffs), the Congress was able to fund six fine warships, including the U.S.S. Constitution, United States and President. The Marine Corps was reestablished in 1798. In 1803, President Jefferson was able to buy the Louisiana Purchase.
See a trend here?
Even in 1860, the government took in tariff revenue $56 million -- less than $2 per person.
Walt
The Articles of Confederation kept taxation limited to the state level, so the federal government was starving to death.
The Constitution allowed the federal government to confiscate some money, and it kept a-rollin' until the inevitability of the federal income tax created the delightful situation we find ourselves in today.