Which statement best describes the articles of confederation and the union they created? the articles of confederation were the united states’ first constitution, which joined the original 13 states under a central government with limited power. the articles of confederation changed the government of the united states, dismantling individual state governments in favor of a strong central government. the articles of confederation established the united states’ first national court system, which forced individual states to join together and adopt the same laws. the articles of confederation contained the first assertion of the united states’ independence from britain, which led to the outbreak of the revolutionary war.