The basic theory of the operation of it is the states can do what they please, maintaining a good firm friendship with its brother states and work to preserve their common bond. This was pretty much what the states proposed to do, and on November 15, 1777, they put this theory into action giving it the title The Articles of Confederation. This government was unicameral, having the Legislative branch holding the most power. Each state was represented in this legislation with one vote, regardless of its size or power. The states liked the articles because self government was very important to them, and at this time the people of America felt much more loyalty to their state then to their country. This was probably the most favorable advantage of the Articles, because the states stressed so much that they wanted to govern themselves. With so much power in the hands of the states, however, it left almost nothing for the central government. Among its few powers were maintaining an army and navy, coining money, establishing a postal system and managing treaties. It could not tax the states, nor could it force the states to abide by its rules if they really didn't want to. The fact that the states didn't have to follow these rules if they didn't want to really showed the weaknesses that soon surfaced of this new government.
Although the articles had some good accomlishments, such as the favorable peace treaty with England and the land ordinances. When the war was over however, and it was put officially into action is when the troubles started to arise. The fact that the government relied to heavily upon the states, and that the states were more powerful than their central government, made it very hard for it to do much of anything. To pass laws, it required 9 out of 13 states to pass them. Because the population was severely misrepresented, this made it even harded to pass them effectively.
