What document served as the first framework of government for the United States?

The Articles of Confederation served as the first framework of government for the United States.

The Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles on November 15, 1777, and the states completed ratification on March 1, 1781. The document created a confederation in which the states retained most governing power while Congress handled diplomacy, war, and certain shared matters.

The Articles helped coordinate the states during the Revolutionary War and remained in force until the Constitution took effect in 1789. Congress could request money and troops from the states but lacked several powers associated with a stronger national government, including the ability to levy taxes directly.

Financial problems, interstate disputes, and difficulties enforcing congressional decisions led many leaders to call for reform. The Constitutional Convention instead produced an entirely new framework. The Articles were therefore an important predecessor to the Constitution, not another name for it.