The Articles of Confederation took effect on March 1, 1781, before the Constitution in America's founding story.
The Articles were the first constitution governing the United States as a union. The Second Continental Congress adopted them in 1777, but they required ratification by all thirteen states. Maryland's approval in February 1781 removed the final obstacle, allowing the Articles to become effective on March 1.
Under the Articles, Congress could conduct diplomacy, manage western lands, and direct the Revolutionary War, but it lacked key powers such as authority to levy federal taxes or regulate interstate commerce. Each state had one vote in Congress, regardless of population. The system reflected strong concerns about centralized power.
The Articles remained in force until the Constitution replaced them in 1789. Their weaknesses, including financial and military difficulties, encouraged leaders to call the Constitutional Convention. They were therefore not simply an abandoned draft: they formed the legal framework of the United States during the final years of the Revolution and the early postwar period.