Articles of Confederation

In 1786, the articles of Confederation became the uniting form of government within the thirteen states of the budding country. The Articles served as a bonding force, creating a common force against common problems in the states as well as to provide guidelines for trade and commerce. One of the pivotal parts of the Articles was the Congress, but it was incredibly weak because it had no method or income to enforce any of the Articles of Confederation. Specifically taxes, Congress frequently was insufficiently supplied because the states would not fully pay their taxes. On the other hand, the Articles of Confederation acted as a stepping stone towards the ratifying of the Constitution. As the members of Congress became more and more aware of the weakness' of the Articles, the delegates moved towards a stronger, sturdier set of laws. Overall, although the Articles of Confederation itself did not effectively govern the states, it led to a superior system of government.