What was the name of the first national governing charter of the United States before the Constitution?

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

The Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles on November 15, 1777, during the Revolutionary War. They did not take effect until March 1, 1781, after all thirteen states had ratified them. The Articles created a “firm league of friendship” among the states rather than a strong centralized government.

Under the Articles, Congress could conduct diplomacy, declare war, and manage western territories, but it could not directly tax citizens or regulate interstate commerce. Each state had one vote in Congress, regardless of population. These limits made national finances and coordinated policy difficult.

The weaknesses of the system helped prompt the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The Constitution replaced the Articles after ratification, creating a federal government with separate legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The transition is an important part of the founding story highlighted by America250.