First constitution of the United States.

“Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union between the States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts-bay, Rhode Island, and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, etc.”

• Placed most of the power in the hands of the states at the expense of the federal government.

“Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom and independence, and every Power, Jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.

• States are supreme, unless they explicitly delegate any power to the federal congress.

"In determining questions in the United States, in Congress assembled, each state shall have one vote.”

• Representation in Congress is equal among states.

“No State, without the Consent of the united states, in congress assembled, shall send any embassy to, or receive any embassy from, or enter into any conference, agreement, alliance, or treaty, with any King prince or state…”

• Restricts the power of the central government by establishing that it cannot raise a national army.

“…But every state shall always keep a well regulated and disciplined militia, sufficiently armed and accounted, and shall provide and constantly have ready for use, in public stores, a due number of field pieces and tents, and a proper quantity of arms, ammunition, and camp equipage.”

• The states have the power to raise an army when needed.

• Congress will be the final arbiter in disputes between states and fixing standard measures, appointing committees to do its work, etc.

  • Congress can’t do the major things it needs to do, like declaring war, “Unless nine states assent to the same.”

    • Power of congress was severely limited by this provision.

“Nor shall any alteration at any time hereafter be made in any of them, unless such alteration be agreed to in a congress of the united states, and be afterwards confirmed by the legislature of every state.”

• Even further limited by the impossibility of changing it or amending it.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE ARTICLES

• Established a central government when there was none before.

• Successfully avoided a tyrannical central government by giving it no power.

• Shay’s Rebellion exposed issues with Articles of Confederation and showed necessity of a strong central government.

• WEAKNESSES OF THE ARTICLES

• Federal government only had one branch.

  • Congress

  • No executive branch or judicial branch.

• All 13 states must agree to an amendment of the Articles.

• Congress had no power to raise tax revenue.

• No national currency.

• Congress had no power to raise a national army.