Ah, yes. The answer to the age-old question, "What are friends for?" To help you fight battles.

The writers of the Articles of Confederation clearly had warfare heavy on their brains. The document uses the word "war" thirteen times; defense six times, invasion twice, and "forces," or troops, eleven times.

Article 9 is mostly dedicated to laying out the procedures and regulations for raising a navy and army (9.5-7). It makes sense—after all, the Articles of Confederation government was created during a war. Attack and invasion by other countries was the greatest perceived threat to Americans' liberties—even more than (*shudder*) taxes.