The Articles of Confederation were the first constitution of the United States, adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and effective from March 1, 1781, until replaced by the current U.S. Constitution in 1789
. They established a "firm league of friendship" among the original 13 states, emphasizing the sovereignty, freedom, and independence of each state while delegating limited powers to a central Congress
. Key features of the Articles of Confederation include:
- The name of the new nation as "The United States of America"
- Each state retained all powers not expressly delegated to the national government, preserving state sovereignty
- Congress had authority to make war and peace, conduct foreign diplomacy, appoint military officers, manage relations with Native American tribes, and resolve disputes between states
- Congress could not directly tax citizens or regulate commerce; it relied on voluntary state contributions for funding
- There was no executive branch or national judiciary, reflecting fears of centralized authority like the British monarchy
- Each state had one vote in Congress regardless of size, and major decisions required a supermajority or unanimous consent for amendments
- The Articles included provisions for mutual defense, free movement of citizens between states, and extradition of criminals
Although the Articles provided a framework for national governance during and immediately after the Revolutionary War, the weak central government they created was unable to effectively manage economic issues, enforce laws, or maintain order, leading to their replacement by the stronger federal Constitution in 1789
. In summary, the Articles of Confederation established a loose confederation of sovereign states with a weak central government primarily focused on coordination and defense, serving as a crucial transitional government for the early United States
