The Articles of Confederation

Children's Literature

During the American Revolution, the Articles of Confederation were drafted as a first effort to organize the new colonial government. Based upon the concept of state sovereignty, the Articles of Confederation soon showed themselves to be an inadequate system of government. Issues linked to banking, interstate commerce, judicial concerns, national defense, and broad economic issues all remained unresolved under this system of loose governance. As a result, leaders from each of the states came together to address these concerns. That group crafted what remains the basis for American government—the Federal Constitution. In The Articles of Confederation, readers are given an introduction to the events that shaped and ultimately led to the demise of the first federal system in America's national history. Like other books in the "We The People" series, this particular work combines numerous illustrations with a concise text. Although the author demonstrates a well-intended approach, the narrative is somewhat dry. In addition, too much space is dedicated to the events leading up to the actual subject of the book. By the final page readers will have only a cursory understanding of what the Articles of Confederation actually were and why they failed to meet the test of time. 2006, Compass Point Books/Capstone Press, Ages 9 to 12.
—Greg M. Romaneck