The Articles of Confederation took effect on March 1, 1781, creating the first U.S. national government before the Constitution and the era commemorated by America250.
The Articles were the first written constitution of the United States. Congress adopted them in 1777, but they required unanimous approval from all thirteen states. Maryland became the final state to ratify them, allowing the Articles to take effect in 1781.
The system created a “league of friendship” among the states and gave Congress powers over diplomacy, war, western territories, and other national matters. It did not create a separate executive branch or a national court system, and Congress could not directly impose taxes.
These weaknesses became increasingly important after the Revolutionary War. Delegates met at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and produced the Constitution, which replaced the Articles after ratification. The two documents are therefore distinct stages in the early national government.