Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation served as the first constitution of the United States. The articles went into effect on March 1, 1781. Soon afterward, however, the people realized that there were problems with the document. On March 4, 1789, the articles were replaced by the United States Constitution.

The articles were written by the representatives of the American colonies who made up the Second Continental Congress. When the colonies declared their independence from Great Britain in 1776 they realized they needed a new plan of government. The colonies deeply resented the laws that the British Parliament had imposed on them, so they set up a weak central government. The only branch of government was a Congress with one house. Congress had power over military and foreign affairs but not over the affairs of each state. It could not enforce its powers or collect taxes.

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Because of these problems, the states called a convention to write a new constitution in 1787. The new constitution strengthened the federal government and provided for executive and judicial branches and a legislature with two houses.

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The Articles of Confederation were written in 1776–77.

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