The Continental Congress adopted the “Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union between the States” on November 15, 1777, and all 13 states ratified the document by March 1, 1781. Recent experiences of imperial overreach encouraged the drafters to devise a weak central government and place power in the hands of state governments. As a confederation of sovereign states, the Articles left little room for coordination between states outside of security measures, i.e., the war effort against foreign foes like Great Britain. While the Articles provided for a legislative branch, Congress had no power to levy or collect taxes, regulate foreign trade, or enforce its laws. The Articles lacked an executive branch as well as a national court system. Making matters worse, amending the Articles required approval from all 13 states. The weaknesses of the Articles prompted the 1787 Constitutional Convention.