The Articles of Confederation took effect on March 1, 1781, as the United States’ first constitution.
The Articles created a loose union of the thirteen states during the Revolutionary War. Congress approved the document in 1777, but it required ratification by every state. Maryland delayed approval because it wanted states with western land claims, especially Virginia, to relinquish them to the Union. Maryland’s ratification completed the process in February 1781, and Congress announced the Articles’ effectiveness on March 1.
The system gave Congress important powers, including conducting diplomacy and directing the war, but it did not create a strong executive branch or a national court system. Congress also lacked a direct power to tax individuals. These weaknesses contributed to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The United States Constitution replaced the Articles on March 4, 1789, creating the federal government that continues today.