The articles of confederation established the first form of an early national government for the independent states. according to the articles confederation, who maintained control of the major powers of government

individual states" who maintained control of the major powers of government, since the the Articles of Confederation was intentionally made to be "weak" in order to ensure that the national government did not become too powerful. 

although world war i began in 1914, the united states did not join the war until 1917. the additional firepower, resources, and soldiers of the u.s. to tip the balance of the war in favor of the allies. remaining neutral. when war broke out in 1914, the united states had a policy of neutrality.