The Articles of Confederation became effective as the first U.S. national framework on March 1, 1781.
The Articles had been approved by Congress in 1777, but they required ratification by all thirteen states. Maryland was the last state to ratify, ending the delay and allowing the Articles to take effect during the Revolutionary War.
Under the Articles, the United States operated as a confederation of states with a weak central government. Congress could conduct diplomacy, declare war, and manage western territories, but it could not directly impose taxes or regulate interstate commerce. There was no separate executive branch or national court system.
The system’s limitations contributed to calls for reform after the war. The Constitutional Convention produced a new framework in 1787, and the Constitution replaced the Articles in 1789. The Articles were therefore not the same document as the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution.