What 1777 document became the first constitution governing the United States?

The Articles of Confederation became the first constitution governing the United States when Congress adopted them in 1777.

The document created a “firm league of friendship” among the states and established a national Congress. It was designed during the Revolutionary War, when the former colonies were cooperating against Britain but remained wary of a powerful central government.

The Articles were submitted to the states for ratification in 1777 and took effect in 1781 after Maryland became the final state to approve them. They guided the country through the war’s final years and the peace settlement.

The Articles did not create an executive branch or a national court system, and Congress lacked important powers such as directly taxing citizens. These weaknesses helped lead to the Constitutional Convention and the U.S. Constitution in 1787.