What was the first governing charter of the United States, adopted before the Constitution?

The Articles of Confederation were the first governing charter of the United States, adopted before the Constitution.

The Second Continental Congress approved the Articles for submission to the states on November 15, 1777. They took effect on March 1, 1781, after Maryland became the final state to ratify them.

The Articles created a “firm league of friendship” among the states and gave Congress authority over diplomacy, war, and western territories. However, Congress could not directly tax individuals, regulate interstate commerce, or enforce many decisions, and each state had one vote regardless of population.

Financial problems, trade disputes, and difficulties responding to unrest exposed weaknesses in the system. Delegates meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 decided to replace rather than simply amend the Articles, producing the Constitution that took effect in 1789.