Final answer:
The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of the United States, in effect from 1781 to 1789. It established a weak central government with limited powers, leading to financial difficulties and interstate disputes. Eventually, it was replaced by the U.S. Constitution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of the United States, which was in effect from 1781 to 1789. It was created during the American Revolution to establish the structure of the new government. Under the Articles, the central government had limited powers, and each state retained its sovereignty and independence.
There were several weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. For example, the central government had no power to tax or regulate trade, leading to financial difficulties and interstate disputes. Additionally, the lack of a strong executive and judicial branch made it difficult to enforce laws and resolve conflicts.
The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation eventually led to the creation of the U.S. Constitution, which replaced it in 1789. The Constitution established a stronger central government with the power to tax, regulate trade, and provide for a system of checks and balances to prevent abuses of power.
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