
The Articles of Confederation, adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, served as the United States' first constitution. It was in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789, when the present-day Constitution went into effect. The Articles of Confederation gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it had no enforcement powers, couldn't regulate commerce, or print money.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Articles of Confederation |
| Date Adopted | November 15, 1777 |
| Date in Force | March 1, 1781 - 1789 |
| Powers Granted | The power to make rules and request funds from the states |
| Limitations | No enforcement powers, couldn't regulate commerce, or print money |
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What You'll Learn
- The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777
- The Articles of Confederation were in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789
- The Articles of Confederation gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states
- The Articles of Confederation had no enforcement powers, couldn't regulate commerce, or print money
- The Articles of Confederation were revised by a Grand Convention of state delegates

The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777
The Articles of Confederation were drafted after the Lee Resolution proposed independence for the American colonies. On June 11, 1776, the Second Continental Congress appointed three committees, one of which was tasked with determining what form the confederation of the colonies should take.
The Articles of Confederation gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states. However, it had no enforcement powers, couldn't regulate commerce, or print money. This led to disputes between the states over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening to tear the young country apart.
Recognising the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, Alexander Hamilton helped convince Congress to organise a Grand Convention of state delegates to work on revising the document.
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The Articles of Confederation were in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789
The Articles of Confederation were the first constitution of the United States. It was adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and was in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789, when the present-day Constitution went into effect.
The Articles of Confederation gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it had no enforcement powers, couldn’t regulate commerce, or print money. The states’ disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the young country apart.
After the Revolutionary War, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington feared their young country was on the brink of collapse. Alexander Hamilton helped convince Congress to organise a Grand Convention of state delegates to work on revising the Articles of Confederation.
The Second Continental Congress appointed three committees on June 11, 1776, after the Lee Resolution proposed independence for the American colonies. One of the committees was tasked with determining what form the confederation of the colonies should take.
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The Articles of Confederation gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states
The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and served as the United States' first constitution. It was in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789 when the present-day Constitution went into effect.
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington feared that their young country was on the brink of collapse. Hamilton helped convince Congress to organise a Grand Convention of state delegates to work on revising the Articles of Confederation.
The Articles of Confederation were replaced by the present-day Constitution in 1789. This new Constitution provided for a stronger federal government with the power to enforce laws, regulate commerce, and print money. It also established a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful.
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The Articles of Confederation had no enforcement powers, couldn't regulate commerce, or print money
The Articles of Confederation, which served as the United States' first constitution, had no enforcement powers, couldn't regulate commerce, or print money. It was adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and was in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789, when the present-day Constitution went into effect.
The Articles of Confederation gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states. However, it lacked the authority to enforce these rules, leading to disputes among the states over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade. The inability to regulate commerce and print money further limited the effectiveness of the Articles of Confederation in governing the young nation.
The Articles of Confederation were drafted during the American Revolutionary War, a time when the colonies were seeking independence from Britain. The Second Continental Congress appointed a committee to determine the form the confederation of the colonies should take, resulting in the creation of the Articles of Confederation.
Despite its shortcomings, the Articles of Confederation served as a crucial stepping stone in the development of the United States' constitutional framework. It provided a foundation for the country's governance and helped shape the present-day Constitution, which replaced it in 1789.
The lack of enforcement powers, inability to regulate commerce, and print money under the Articles of Confederation highlighted the need for a stronger central government and a more comprehensive constitutional framework. This realisation led to the convening of a Grand Convention of state delegates, organised by Alexander Hamilton, to revise the Articles of Confederation and ultimately, to the creation of the present-day Constitution.
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The Articles of Confederation were revised by a Grand Convention of state delegates
The Articles of Confederation, which served as the United States' first constitution, were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777. They were in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789 when the present-day Constitution went into effect.
The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and served as the United States' first constitution. They were in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789 when the present-day Constitution went into effect. The Articles of Confederation were replaced by the Constitution, which was drafted by the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and ratified by the states in 1788. The Constitutional Convention was convened in response to the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which had become apparent in the years following the American Revolution.
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Frequently asked questions
The Articles of Confederation.
The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777.
The Articles of Confederation came into force on March 1, 1781.
The Articles of Confederation were the result of the work of three committees appointed by the Second Continental Congress on June 11, 1776.

























