<Li> Reaffirms that the Confederation accepts war debt incurred by Congress before the existence of the Articles . </Li> <Li> Declares that the Articles shall be perpetual, and may be altered only with the approval of Congress and the ratification of all the state legislatures . </Li> <P> While still at war with Britain, the revolution's leaders were divided between forming a national government with powers either strong and centralized (the "federalists"), or strictly limited (the "anti federalists"). The Continental Congress compromised by dividing sovereignty between the states and the central government, with a unicameral legislature that protected the liberty of the individual states . It empowered Congress to regulate military and monetary affairs, for example, but provided no mechanism to compel the States to comply with requests for either troops or funding . This left the military vulnerable to inadequate funding, supplies, or even food . </P> <P> The Articles supported the Congressional direction of the Continental Army, and allowed the states to present a unified front when dealing with the European powers . As a tool to build a centralized war - making government, they were largely a failure: Historian Bruce Chadwick wrote: </P>

Article 9 of the articles of confederation summary