Final answer:
The Articles of Confederation aimed to establish a confederation of sovereign states for mutual defense, emphasizing a limited national government to avoid British-style centralized authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of the Articles of Confederation was to create a confederation of states, a 'firm league of friendship,' for mutual defense and collective welfare, especially to support and conduct the war against England. It served as the first constitution for the United States of America after declaring independence from British rule. The Articles gave the national Confederation Congress several powers, but they were limited, as it was crucial to avoid the kind of centralized authority that the colonies were fighting against with Great Britain.
Some of the powers of the Confederation Congress included the ability to enter into treaties and alliances, declare war and make peace, coin and borrow money, and regulate affairs with Native American tribes. Significant actions, such as amendments to the Articles themselves, required unanimous consent from all the states. Among the powers listed, the correct answer to what power did the national Confederation Congress have is D. the power to create land ordinances.
The Confederation Congress lacked the ability to impose taxes, which was a significant weakness that led to fiscal problems for the new nation. Moreover, with no central authority to enforce laws or regulate trade effectively, and with each state retaining significant power and independence, the Articles were deemed insufficient for a growing nation, leading to the eventual creation of the U.S. Constitution, which granted more powers to the federal government.