The Articles of Confederation were the first constitution of the United States of America. They were drafted by a committee of the Continental Congress in 1776, and ratified by all 13 states in 1781.
The Articles of Confederation created a very weak central government. The federal government had no power to tax, regulate commerce, or make treaties. All of these powers were reserved to the states. The federal government could only declare war, sign treaties, and borrow money.
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
The Articles of Confederation failed because they created a central government that was too weak to function effectively. The federal government could not raise money, regulate commerce, or make treaties. This made it difficult for the United States to function as a nation.
In addition, the Articles of Confederation did not provide for a way to resolve disputes between the states. This led to a number of conflicts between the states, including the Revolutionary War.
The Articles of Confederation were eventually replaced by the Constitution of the United States in 1789. The Constitution created a much stronger central government, which gave the federal government the power to tax, regulate commerce, and make treaties. This made it possible for the United States to function more effectively as a nation.