What document served as the first frame of government for the United States during the Revolutionary War?

The Articles of Confederation served as the first frame of government for the United States during the Revolutionary War.

The Second Continental Congress debated the Articles from 1776 to 1777. Congress approved the final text on November 15, 1777, but the document did not take effect until March 1, 1781, after all 13 states ratified it.

The Articles created a confederation in which the states retained extensive power. Congress could conduct diplomacy, declare war, and manage certain national affairs, but it lacked the authority to impose federal taxes directly or regulate interstate commerce effectively.

Financial weakness and disputes over national authority helped lead to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The Constitution replaced the Articles after taking effect in 1789, although the Articles remain an important part of the founding-era story.