According to the Articles of Confederation, what power was granted to Congress?

The powers given to Congress were very limited. The sovereign states had more power than the national congress. Essentially Congress was only involved when the states could not work things out on their own and then 9 / 13 states had to agree.

Congress had the power to maintain armed forces, a navy and an army. However Congress had no power to tax so paying for the navy and army was very difficult. Congress had to ask the states for the money to pay for the armed forces and often the states did not want to give the money to Congress.

Congress could raise some money by treaties that provided for some tariffs on important goods from foreign countries. However the southern states resisted tariffs because the southern states important all of the manufactured goods required by the southern states.

Congress could coin ( print) money that had to be accepted by all of the states, however each state also could coin their own money as well.

The articles of confederation created a central government that was so weak that the nation was in danger of collapse. The failure of the Articles of Confederation resulted in the need for a new form of government.