What document established the first governing framework for the United States before the Constitution?

The Articles of Confederation established the first governing framework for the United States before the Constitution.

The Continental Congress adopted the Articles in 1777, during the American Revolutionary War. They created a confederation called the United States of America and provided rules for diplomacy, war, western territories, and relations among the states. The document did not create a separate executive branch or a national court system.

The Articles required unanimous approval by the states, so they did not take effect until March 1, 1781. Their system deliberately kept most power with the states. Congress could request money and troops, but it could not directly tax individuals or regulate interstate commerce effectively.

Financial problems, trade disputes, and difficulties responding to unrest persuaded many political leaders that a stronger national government was needed. The Constitutional Convention met in 1787 and produced the Constitution, which replaced the Articles in 1789. The Articles were therefore an important step in the founding story, not a failed version of the Declaration of Independence.