The Articles of Confederation became America's effective national government on March 1, 1781.
The Articles were the first frame of government for the United States. Congress approved the document for distribution to the states on November 15, 1777, but it required unanimous ratification. Maryland was the final state to approve it, ending the long ratification process.
Maryland’s ratification was reported to Congress on March 1, 1781, and the Articles then came into force. They created a loose union in which the states retained substantial power, while Congress had limited authority over taxation, commerce, and enforcement.
The system struggled to manage national finances and interstate disputes. Delegates eventually drafted the Constitution, which superseded the Articles on March 4, 1789. The Articles therefore form an important bridge between the Declaration of Independence and the constitutional government commemorated by America250.