The Articles of Confederation officially came into force on March 1, 1781.
The Second Continental Congress finalized the Articles on November 15, 1777, then sent them to the states for ratification. The process stalled because Maryland objected to claims by states such as Virginia over western lands. Maryland became the last state to ratify, clearing the way for the Articles to take effect.
The Articles created a loose union in which Congress handled diplomacy, war, and certain national matters, but it lacked strong powers to tax, regulate interstate commerce, or enforce laws directly. Each state retained substantial sovereignty, and major decisions often required the approval of nine states.
The Articles remained the national framework until March 4, 1789, when the Constitution replaced them. Their weaknesses helped persuade many political leaders that the United States needed a stronger federal government. The 1787 Constitutional Convention therefore produced a new governing document rather than simply revising the Articles.