⚖️ Articles of Confederation

Quick Summary

Written during the Revolution and ratified in 1781, the Articles of Confederation created a 'firm league of friendship' among 13 nearly-independent states. The national government was intentionally weak because Americans feared another king. That weakness almost destroyed the country in less than a decade.

Weaknesses of the National Government

• •Congress could NOT collect taxes — it could only ask states for money.
• •Congress could NOT regulate interstate or foreign trade.
• •NO national executive (no President) to enforce laws.
• •NO national court system.
• •Laws needed 9 of 13 states to pass — very hard.
• •Amendments required unanimous approval — nearly impossible.
• •Could NOT raise a standing army.
• •No single national currency — each state printed its own money.

State Powers Under the Articles

• •States could collect their own taxes.
• •States could print their own currency.
• •States could regulate trade with other states.
• •States acted almost like independent nations.

Shays' Rebellion (1786)

Daniel Shays led poor Massachusetts farmers in armed rebellion. The national government had no army or money to stop it — Massachusetts had to use its own militia. This convinced leaders that the Articles had to be replaced.

What the Articles Did Accomplish

• •Won the Revolutionary War against Britain.
• •Negotiated the Treaty of Paris (1783).
• •Passed the Northwest Ordinance (1787) — created a process for new states to enter the Union.
• •Proved the U.S. needed a stronger national government — led directly to the Constitutional Convention (1787).

Key Vocabulary

• •Confederation — a loose alliance of independent states.
• •Ratify — to officially approve.
• •Unanimous — requiring everyone's agreement.
• •Standing Army — a permanent, professional military.