Read this passage from the Articles of Confederation.
All charges of war, and all other expenses that shall be incurred for the common defense or general welfare . . . shall be defrayed out of a common treasury . . . .
The taxes for paying that proportion shall be laid and levied by the authority and direction of the legislatures of the several States within the time agreed upon by the United States in Congress assembled.
–The Articles of Confederation, 1777
This passage from the Articles of Confederation primarily relates to the authority of
state governments to tax citizens.
state governments to form armies.
the federal government to sign treaties.
the federal government to produce currency.
