Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation was the first governing document of the United States, created in 1781. It established a confederation, or alliance, among the thirteen original states. However, it gave limited power to the central government, lacking the authority to tax or regulate trade. This structure led to difficulties in addressing national issues, like economic instability and defense. Ultimately, the weaknesses of the Articles prompted the Constitutional Convention in 1787, which resulted in the U.S. Constitution, establishing a stronger federal government that could better manage the country’s needs.