The articles of confederation governed the United States prior to the
ratification of the Constitution in 1788. They were adopted in 1777 and created a loose alliance of 13 independent states. The Articles established a central government, called the Congress of the Confederation, but it was relatively weak compared to the states. Some key features of the Articles of Confederation include:
1. Limited powers of Congress: Under the Articles, Congress had limited authority to enforce laws and collect taxes. It could not regulate trade or raise an army without state approval.
2. One vote per state: In Congress, each state had equal representation, regardless of its population or size. This meant that larger states had the same influence as smaller states.
3. Weak executive branch: There was no separate executive branch under the Articles of Confederation. The president of Congress served as a ceremonial role with limited powers.
4. No national court system: The Articles did not establish a national court system. Disputes between states were handled by specially appointed committees or state courts.
5. Difficulty in amending: Amending the Articles required the unanimous consent of all 13 states, making it challenging to make any significant changes.
The Articles of Confederation were eventually replaced by the Constitution, as they proved to be ineffective in governing the nation and addressing key issues such as trade, taxation, and defense.