The Articles of Confederation created the first government of the United States. This foundational document paved the way for the development of a more unified and powerful federal system under the U.S. Constitution.
00:00:00 In 1777, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation. These six sheets of parchment, stitched together, created the United States’ first government. A year earlier, members of the Continental Congress had drafted the Declaration of Independence. It established the United States as an independent nation. But for the country to work effectively its 13 different states needed to be bound together with a functioning central government. So delegates from each state put pen to parchment and wrote the Articles of Confederation.
00:42:20 The document created a “league of friendship” between the states: acknowledging each state's independence and ability to make its own laws; while also setting up a federal government, where states could vote on matters of national importance. The Articles of Confederation were ratified in 1781 and remained in effect for around eight years. During that time, the federal government used its powers to establish treaties with foreign nations; settle land disputes with Indigenous Peoples such as the Chickasaw and Choctaw nations; and develop plans to govern the Northwest Territory.
01:21:09 But the Articles of Confederation had many weaknesses: They created a legislature, but no executive or judicial branches. They did not give Congress the power to create a national currency, meaning each state had its own form of money. Congress did not have the power to raise taxes, so many Revolutionary soldiers went unpaid. And as protests broke out across the country, the federal government could not form and fund a national army to keep the peace.
01:52:23 In May 1787, state delegates met in Philadelphia, and began drafting a new document. The Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation and gave the federal government more power. By learning from the mistakes of the past. The Framers created a government that would last.
The Articles of Confederation created the first government of the United States. This foundational document paved the way for the development of a more unified and powerful federal system under the U.S. Constitution.
00:00:00 In 1777, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation. These six sheets of parchment, stitched together, created the United States’ first government. A year earlier, members of the Continental Congress had drafted the Declaration of Independence. It established the United States as an independent nation. But for the country to work effectively its 13 different states needed to be bound together with a functioning central government. So delegates from each state put pen to parchment and wrote the Articles of Confederation.
00:42:20 The document created a “league of friendship” between the states: acknowledging each state's independence and ability to make its own laws; while also setting up a federal government, where states could vote on matters of national importance. The Articles of Confederation were ratified in 1781 and remained in effect for around eight years. During that time, the federal government used its powers to establish treaties with foreign nations; settle land disputes with Indigenous Peoples such as the Chickasaw and Choctaw nations; and develop plans to govern the Northwest Territory.
01:21:09 But the Articles of Confederation had many weaknesses: They created a legislature, but no executive or judicial branches. They did not give Congress the power to create a national currency, meaning each state had its own form of money. Congress did not have the power to raise taxes, so many Revolutionary soldiers went unpaid. And as protests broke out across the country, the federal government could not form and fund a national army to keep the peace.
01:52:23 In May 1787, state delegates met in Philadelphia, and began drafting a new document. The Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation and gave the federal government more power. By learning from the mistakes of the past. The Framers created a government that would last.