Saturday, November 15, 2025

Happy Birthday Articles of Confederation!

The Articles of Confederation were the first plan for the United States government. They were written during the American Revolution and approved on November 15, 1781. The Articles created a government where the 13 states worked together, but the national government was very weak. There was no president, no national courts, and Congress could not collect taxes. Most power stayed with the states.

The Articles of Confederation influenced the U.S. Constitution because they showed the leaders what problems could happen with a weak government. The government could not pay its debts, raise an army, or help states solve conflicts. Because of these problems, the Founders decided the country needed a stronger national government. The Constitution, written in 1787, created three branches of government and gave Congress more power, fixing many of the weaknesses of the Articles.

It is important for students to learn about the Articles of Confederation because they help explain why the U.S. Constitution was written the way it was. By understanding the problems of the first government, students can see why the Constitution created a stronger and more organized system that could protect people’s rights and help the states work together.

USCIS 128:14.   Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one. 

• Declaration of Independence 

• Articles of Confederation 

• Federalist Papers 

• Anti-Federalist Papers 

• Virginia Declaration of Rights 

• Fundamental Orders of Connecticut 

• Mayflower Compact 

• Iroquois Great Law of Peace

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