There are many possibilities to what could have happened if the articles of confederation were not abolished.
The US would not have received the Louisiana Purchase since the creation of the Constitution created the idea of having a president, there would be not president to negotiate with Napoleon to purchase his land. The purchase of the land was negotiated by Robert Livingston, James Monroe, and Barbé Marbois in Paris, France. This would result in the country being significantly smaller as it today. The west would not be discovered by the British immigrants coming over since we would not have access beyond the Mississippi