Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation was an agreement among the 13 states of the United States that served as the nation's first frame of government, established in 1777 and effective from 1781. The Articles provided for a weak confederal government, with only limited powers, and was ratified by all 13 states. Despite its weaknesses, the Congress of the Confederation, renamed from the Second Continental Congress, continued to direct the war effort and conduct business, but the limitations of the Articles became apparent, especially after Shays's Rebellion, and led to calls for changes. In 1787, the Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia, which resulted in the creation of a new constitution that replaced the Articles, providing for a much stronger federal government with a chief executive, courts, and taxing powers.learn more on wikipedia