What document established the first national government of the United States?

The Articles of Confederation established the first national government of the United States. Officially titled the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, the document created a loose union of the thirteen states during the Revolutionary War.

The Continental Congress approved the Articles on November 15, 1777, but they did not take effect until Maryland became the final state to ratify them on March 1, 1781. Under this system, Congress handled war, diplomacy, treaties, and disputes between states, but the states retained most political power.

The Articles deliberately avoided creating a strong executive or national judiciary. Congress could request money from the states but could not impose taxes directly, and it had limited power to enforce its decisions. These weaknesses made it difficult to pay debts, regulate trade, and respond uniformly to national problems.

The Constitution replaced the Articles in 1789. A common mix-up is confusing the Articles with the Declaration of Independence: the Declaration announced separation from Britain in 1776, while the Articles supplied the new nation’s governing framework.