Articles of confederation.
Definition
The first constitution of the United States, ratified in 1781, which created a weak central government with no power to tax, regulate trade, or enforce laws. Its weaknesses led to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and the creation of the current Constitution.
Examples
Real-world.
- 1 Congress could not collect taxes and had to request money from states
- 2 Shays' Rebellion (1786-87) exposed the government's inability to maintain order
- 3 Each state had one vote in Congress regardless of population
Key Fact
The Articles required unanimous consent of all 13 states to amend, making reform nearly impossible.