Articles of Confederation

Definition

The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of the United States, adopted by Congress in 1777 and ratified by the states in 1781. It established a weak central government that had limited power over the states.

Related terms

Shays' Rebellion: A rebellion led by Daniel Shays in Massachusetts from 1786-1787, protesting against economic and civil rights injustices. This event highlighted weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation.

Constitutional Convention: A meeting held in Philadelphia in 1787 where delegates from twelve states rewrote the Articles into what became the U.S. Constitution.

Federalism: A system of government where power is divided between a national (federal) government and various regional governments. This concept was introduced as an alternative to the weak central government under the Articles.