Question

The Articles of Confederation was the:

a) First federal constitution of the United States
b) The document declaring the United States was no longer a part of Great Britain
c) The document used to convict King George of murder
d) First declaration of American independence

Answer 1

The Articles of Confederation was the first federal constitution of the United States, establishing a confederation with limited powers for the central government. Its shortcomings led to the drafting of the Constitution in 1787, which significantly strengthened the national government.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Articles of Confederation was the first federal constitution of the United States. Drafted in 1777 and ratified in 1781, it served as the foundation for the government of the United States after independence. The Articles established the United States as a confederation of states where the national government had powers such as declaring war, coining money, and conducting foreign affairs, but it lacked authority to impose taxes, regulate commerce, or raise an army on its own.

These limitations stemmed from the fear of a strong central government, an issue that led to its eventual replacement by the Constitution in 1787 after the Constitutional Convention. The delegates at the convention sought to create a more effective federal system that addressed the weaknesses of the Articles, resulting in a new national government with greater powers, including the ability to tax and regulate interstate commerce.