What governing document served as the United States’ first constitution before the current Constitution?

The Articles of Confederation served as the United States’ first constitution before the current Constitution.

The Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles on November 15, 1777. The states did not ratify them fully until March 1, 1781, when Maryland became the final state to approve the document. The Articles created a “firm league of friendship” among the states and established Congress as the central institution.

The Articles gave Congress important powers, including conducting foreign affairs, declaring war, and managing western territories. They did not create a separate executive branch or a national court system. Congress also lacked authority to levy taxes directly or regulate interstate commerce, making it difficult to fund the government and manage national problems.

The weaknesses became increasingly apparent after the Revolutionary War. Financial instability, disputes among states, and events such as Shays’ Rebellion encouraged leaders to revise the national system. Instead, delegates met at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and produced the Constitution. The Articles were not simply an early draft of the current Constitution; they created a different system built around strong state sovereignty and a comparatively weak central government.