The Articles of Confederation became fully ratified by all 13 states on March 1, 1781.
The Articles were approved by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, but they did not take effect immediately. Ratification required every state’s approval, and disputes over western land claims delayed completion for several years.
Maryland became the final state to ratify the Articles on February 2, 1781. The formal ratification process was completed on March 1, and Congress then operated under the Articles as the government of the United States in Congress Assembled.
The Articles created a confederation in which each state retained substantial sovereignty and had one vote in Congress. The national government lacked several powers associated with the later Constitution, including broad authority to tax individuals directly. The Articles remained the country’s governing framework until the Constitution took effect in 1789.