On what date was the final draft of the Articles of Confederation completed?

The final draft of the Articles of Confederation was completed on November 15, 1777.

The Articles were the first constitutional framework of the United States. The Second Continental Congress debated them in Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War, while the document attempted to unite the states without eliminating their sovereignty.

The Articles created a confederation with a unicameral Congress and limited central powers. Congress could conduct diplomacy, declare war and resolve certain disputes, but it lacked important powers such as directly taxing individuals or regulating interstate commerce. These limitations later contributed to calls for a stronger federal government.

The final draft was sent to the states for ratification, but Maryland’s objections over western land claims delayed completion. Maryland ratified on February 2, 1781, and the Articles formally took effect on March 1. They remained the governing framework until the Constitution replaced them on March 4, 1789.