The Articles of Confederation came into force as the first U.S. national framework of government on March 1, 1781.
The Second Continental Congress finalized the Articles on November 15, 1777, after more than a year of debate. The document created a “firm league” among the states and described a national Congress, but it left most powers with the individual states. Congress could conduct diplomacy, declare war, and manage certain national matters, yet it lacked broad authority to tax or regulate commerce directly.
Ratification took nearly three and a half years. Maryland was the last state to approve the Articles, largely because it wanted states with western land claims to surrender them to the Union. Maryland ratified on February 2, 1781, and Congress was informed of the decision in March. The Articles then officially became the operating framework.
The Articles remained in effect until March 4, 1789, when the United States Constitution replaced them. Their weaknesses helped motivate the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and the creation of a stronger federal government.