When did the Continental Congress approve the Articles of Confederation?

The Continental Congress approved the Articles of Confederation on November 15, 1777.

The Articles were the first written constitution of the United States. Congress approved the final text during the Revolutionary War and sent it to the states for ratification. The document did not become fully effective until March 1, 1781, when Maryland became the last state to ratify it.

Under the Articles, the states retained substantial sovereignty and the national government had limited powers. Congress could conduct diplomacy, declare war, and manage certain national affairs, but it could not directly tax individuals or regulate interstate commerce. Each state received one vote in Congress regardless of population.

The weaknesses of this system helped lead to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The Constitution replaced the Articles after state ratification, creating a stronger federal structure. The Articles are therefore not the same document as the Constitution, despite both serving as foundational national governing frameworks.