What type of government did the Articles of Confederation establish?

The Articles of Confederation established a confederation of sovereign states, which means that it created a system where individual states retained most of their independence and authority while coming together for certain common purposes. This structure allowed states to operate as separate entities while cooperating on issues such as defense and foreign relations.

Under the Articles, the central government had very limited powers, emphasizing state sovereignty over federal authority. This was a significant shift from a centralized federal government, as the national government could not enforce laws, levy taxes, or regulate commerce effectively due to its structural limitations. Thus, the Articles fostered a loose alliance of states that prioritized their autonomy, which shaped early American governance and highlighted challenges that would eventually lead to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.