What was the first governing charter of the United States, in force from 1781 until the Constitution replaced it?

The Articles of Confederation were the first governing charter of the United States, in force from 1781 until the Constitution replaced them.

The Continental Congress adopted the Articles in 1777, but all 13 states had to approve them before they could take effect. Maryland became the final state to ratify the document on March 1, 1781, during the Revolutionary War.

The Articles created a loose confederation in which the states retained most political power. Congress could conduct diplomacy, declare war, manage western territories, and handle other national responsibilities, but it could not directly tax citizens or regulate interstate commerce.

These weaknesses made it difficult to pay debts, supply the army, and coordinate national policy. The Confederation Congress nevertheless achieved important results, including the 1783 peace settlement and the Northwest Ordinance. Delegates met in 1787 to create a stronger federal system, leading to the Constitution.