What type of government was established by the Articles of Confederation?

The type of government established by the Articles of Confederation was a loose confederation of states. This framework was created after the American Revolution as the first governing document of the United States. The Articles intended to unite the various independent states while allowing them to retain significant autonomy and power. Each state operated as a sovereign entity, and the national government had very limited authority.

Key features of this arrangement included the lack of a strong central authority, no executive branch, and the inability to impose taxes or regulate commerce effectively. The emphasis was on sovereignty for the states, which meant they could make their own laws and govern their internal affairs without interference from the national government. This loose structure ultimately led to challenges in governance, necessitating a stronger federal framework that was established with the U.S. Constitution.

Understanding this context is crucial, as it highlights the inherent weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation, which prompted the shift towards a more centralized government as outlined in the Constitution.