The U.S. financial debt during the Articles of Confederation was mainly due to the costs of the Revolutionary War.
The great financial debt incurred by the U.S. during the time of the Articles of Confederation was primarily caused by the expenses of the Revolutionary War. Congress had borrowed heavily from foreign nations and Americans to finance the war, resulting in a significant debt that the central government struggled to repay. The lack of a dedicated revenue source and the inability to compel states to cover their portion of the war debt exacerbated the financial challenges.