what powers did the articles government have ?

Answer 1

If you are asking what the Articles of Confederation, the first US government was... then this pdf will explain it best:

https://www.cde.state.co.us/cosocialstudies/simplifiedversions#:~:text=Article%201%3A%20Created%20the%20name,protect%20each%20other%20from%20attacks.

The AOC was the first 'constitution' of the United States, the first 13 states of course, it gave each of the 3 states primary decision-making abilities on everything from printing money to treaties with foreign powers to immigration rules, etc thus why it was a failure.