The Articles of Confederation Introduction The Articles of Confederation is a document that was signed by the thirteen original colonies of the United States and officially ratified in 1781. It served as the first constitution of the United States, and it lays out the organization of the fledgling republic. Along with the Declaration of Independence, it is one of the most important documents in American history. The Articles of Confederation had its flaws, but it is still an important document that set the framework for the government of the United States. One interesting aspect of the Articles of Confederation that I decided to study further is its provisions for foreign relations. Body The Articles of Confederation did not give the federal government a great deal of power over foreign affairs. It gave the federal government the power to make treaties and alliances with foreign countries, but the states were given the power to make their own treaties and alliances. This gave the states a great deal of autonomy in their foreign affairs, and it was not until the Constitution was ratified in 1789 that the federal government was given sole power over foreign affairs. Another interesting provision of the Articles of Confederation was its handling of foreign debt. The Articles of Confederation stipulated that foreign …show more content…
The federal government was given the power to regulate trade between the states, but the states were given the power to make their own laws regarding foreign trade. This led to a patchwork of different laws and regulations regarding foreign trade, which created confusion and made it difficult for merchants and traders to conduct business. The Constitution, which was ratified in 1789, gave the federal government the power to regulate foreign trade and to ensure that the states could not create their own laws that would disrupt interstate