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Strengths And Weaknesses Of The Articles Of Confederation

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After declaring independence from Great Britain, the newly independent nation had to form a government that would satisfy the needs of the people while still maintaining state sovereignty and independence. The 13 individual states formed a confederation where they were united as one nation despite having the vast majority of powers lie among the states unlike a unitary system where all the power lie with the national government. After its adoption in 1777, the Articles of Confederation became the first U.S Constitution that established a system of government and set up guiding principles for the government and states to follow in order to maintain order and sovereignty among states. As the Articles of Confederation continued to be exercised, delegates soon realized the limits and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation such as the government's lack of power to enforce laws, levy taxes, and regulate commerce; however, despite these weaknesses, the Articles of Confederation introduced Congress, ended the American Revolution, and developed policies for managing western territories through the passing of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.
Although the Articles of Confederation had more weaknesses than strengths, the document became a stepping one for the creation of the U.S Constitution and was important in the management of western territories with the creation of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. The Articles of Confederation introduced the Confederation Congress where

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