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[[File:Articles_of_Confederation_13c_1977_issue.JPG|Articles of Confederation 13c 1977 issue|thumb]] [[File:Seal_of_Virginia.svg|Seal of Virginia|thumb|left]] [[File:Seal_of_South_Carolina.svg|Seal of South Carolina|thumb|left]] [[File:Seal_of_New_York.svg|Seal of New York|thumb]] [[File:Seal_of_Rhode_Island_(pre_2022).svg|Seal of Rhode Island (pre 2022)|thumb]] '''Articles of Confederation'''

The '''Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union''' was the first [[constitution]] of the [[United States of America]], ratified by the 13 original states in 1781. It served as the nation's fundamental law until it was replaced by the [[United States Constitution]] in 1789. The Articles established a confederation, named "The United States of America," which was essentially a league of sovereign states agreeing to cooperate on matters of mutual concern while retaining their individual sovereignty and independence.

==Background==
The need for a unified government became apparent to the [[American colonies]] during the [[American Revolutionary War]]. The Continental Congress, a convention of delegates from the colonies, drafted the Articles in 1777 to formalize this cooperation. However, the Articles were not ratified by all thirteen states until March 1, 1781, when [[Maryland]] became the last state to approve them.

==Content==
The Articles of Confederation comprised 13 articles that outlined the form and function of the national government. Key provisions included:

* Establishing the name of the confederation as "The United States of America."
* Asserting the sovereignty, freedom, and independence of the states.
* Allocating one vote in the Congress of the Confederation to each state, regardless of size.
* Limiting the powers of the central government, with most powers, including taxation and law enforcement, remaining with the states.
* Requiring unanimous consent of all states for any amendments to the Articles.

==Weaknesses==
The Articles of Confederation had several significant weaknesses:

* The national government lacked the power to tax, relying on voluntary contributions from the states for revenue.
* There was no national executive or judiciary, leading to difficulties in enforcing laws and resolving disputes between states.
* Amendments to the Articles required unanimous consent, making changes difficult to achieve.
* The government had limited authority to regulate commerce, resulting in economic disputes and competition between states.

==Impact and Legacy==
The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to economic turmoil and interstate conflict, which highlighted the need for a stronger national government. This led to the [[Constitutional Convention]] of 1787, where the current United States Constitution was drafted, creating a federal system with a stronger central government.

The Articles of Confederation hold an important place in American history as the nation's first constitution and a stepping stone towards the development of the United States' current system of government.

==See Also==
* [[United States Constitution]]
* [[Constitutional Convention (United States)|Constitutional Convention]]
* [[Founding Fathers of the United States]]

[[Category:United States history]]
[[Category:Political charters]]
[[Category:1781 in law]]

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Articles of Confederation - Revision history

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