What did the Articles of Confederation establish?

The Articles of Confederation established the first governing framework of the United States, creating a confederation of sovereign states. This was a significant step in the formation of the United States after breaking away from British rule. The Articles were designed to maintain the independence and sovereignty of each state while creating a loose union for purposes of collective defense and cooperation in certain areas like foreign relations and trade.

Under the Articles, the national government had limited powers and was primarily responsible for functions like waging war and making treaties, but it lacked the authority to levy taxes or regulate interstate commerce, which ultimately led to significant challenges in governance. The idea was to create a system wherein states retained most of their power, reflecting the experiences and concerns of the colonies under British rule. This framework established a fundamental principle of governance, emphasizing state autonomy within a collective effort, which shaped the early political landscape of the new nation.