The Articles of Confederation was our countries first Constitution. It was a black and white agreement drafted by the Second Continental Congress. It was agreed upon and signed by the thirteen colonies in 1781. The Articles were mainly aimed at the state governments. The Articles had many weaknesses, but it also accomplished many things. The Articles of Confederation were able to keep the state together until the Constitution was written. I was because of the Articles that the Revolutionary war was ended with Great Britain. Many states gave up their claims to land west of the Appalachians. This land was given to the government. It helped to create a feeling of national security. Under the Articles, congress enacted laws to organize these territories and to admit as new states, with the same footing as the other states. Although the Articles of Confederation had it strengths, it had many weaknesses. The Articles were too weak to create and effective government. There was not executive department to carry out and enforce the acts of congress. The Articles had no national court system to interpret the meaning of the new laws. To make changes to the Articles every state had to agree. If one state didn’t agree no changes were able to be made. Nine out of thirteen states had to approve any major changes in the law before it was passed. With the weak central government, each state was allowed to create its own foreign policies and create its own money, however it was possible that the money wouldn’t be accepted in other states. When the war was over it left behind huge debts. However, under the Articles, congress wasn’t allowed to collect taxes. They were only allowed to ask the states for money, which meant that many states were unable or unwilling to pay the government back.
The Constitution of the United States is the central instrument of the