What was the first governing document of the United States, preceding the Constitution?

The Articles of Confederation were the first governing document of the United States, preceding the Constitution.

The Continental Congress adopted the Articles in 1777, but they did not take effect until March 1, 1781, when Maryland became the last state to ratify them. The document created a “league of friendship” among the states and gave Congress limited central powers.

Under the Articles, Congress could conduct diplomacy, declare war, and manage western territories, but it could not impose federal taxes or regulate interstate commerce effectively. Each state had one vote in Congress regardless of population.

The government’s weaknesses contributed to calls for reform after the Revolutionary War. In 1787, delegates met in Philadelphia and produced the Constitution, which replaced the Articles in 1789. The Articles were therefore not the same document as the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence.