What was the name of the first governing charter of the United States, before the Constitution celebrated by America250?

The Articles of Confederation were the first governing charter of the United States. The Second Continental Congress adopted them in 1777, and they became effective on March 1, 1781, after Maryland became the final state to ratify.

The Articles created a “firm league of friendship” among the states but gave the national Congress limited powers. Congress could conduct diplomacy, declare war, and manage western lands, yet it could not directly tax individuals or regulate interstate commerce. Important decisions often required a large majority of states, and amendments required unanimous approval.

Problems under the Articles helped prompt the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The Constitution replaced the Articles with a stronger federal system featuring separate legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The Articles were not the Declaration of Independence: the Declaration announced separation from Great Britain, while the Articles established the first national government after independence. The original Articles document is preserved at the National Archives, alongside other foundational records connected with the America250 era.