Excerpts from the Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress in 1781.

Article 1. The name of the confederacy shall be the United States of America.
Article 2. Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every
power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to
the United States in Congress assembled.
Article 3. The said states hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each
other for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and
general welfare
Article 5. No states shall be represented in Congress by less than two, nor more than
seven membersIn determining questions in the United States in Congress assembled,
each state shall have one vote
Article 8: Taxes for paying for all expenses incurred for the general welfare shall be
levied by the authority and direction of the Legislatures of the states
Article 9. The United States in Congress shall have the sole and exclusive right and
power of determining on peace and warof sending and receiving ambassadors; entering
into treaties and alliancesThe United States in Congress shall also be the last resort on
appeal in all disagreements that may arise between two or more states
The United States in Congress shall also have the sole exclusive right and power of
regulating the alloy and value of coinsfixing the standard of weights and measures
throughout the United States, regulating the trade and managing all affairs with the
Indiansestablishing and regulating post-offices from one state to anotherappointing
all the officers of the naval forces, and commissioning all officers whatever in the service
of the United States
The United States in congress shall never engage in a warnor enter into any treaties
or alliances, nor coin money, nor borrow money on the credit of the United States nor
appoint a commander in chief of the army or navyunless nine states agree on the
issue
Article 13. The Articles of the Confederation shall be observed by every state nor
shall any alteration at any time hereafter be made in any of them; unless such alteration
be agreed to in a Congress of the United States and be afterward confirmed by the
legislatures of every state

1. Why did Congress have so much trouble passing laws under the terms of the Articles of
Confederation?
2. Why was it difficult or impossible for the government of the United States, under the Articles,
to raise money to pay its expenses?
3. Why was it difficult or impossible for the government of the United States, under the Articles,
to settle disputes between the different states?
4. Which of the weaknesses of the Articles proved most significant in causing the failure of
government under the Articles?
5. Why was it so difficult or impossible to make changes, or amendments, to the Articles of
Confederation?
6. What amendments might the states have added to the Articles to make this plan for
government more effective?