Which document became the first effective constitution of the United States on March 1, 1781?

The Articles of Confederation became the first effective constitution of the United States on March 1, 1781.

The Second Continental Congress approved the Articles on November 15, 1777, but the document required unanimous state approval. Maryland was the final state to ratify it, doing so on February 2, 1781. Congress formally announced the Articles’ effectiveness on March 1.

The Articles created a confederation in which the states retained most governmental power. Congress could conduct foreign affairs, declare war, and manage western territories, but it could not directly tax citizens or regulate interstate commerce. Each state received one vote in Congress regardless of population.

Financial weakness, disputes among states, and difficulty responding to national problems contributed to calls for reform. The Constitution replaced the Articles as the nation’s governing framework on March 4, 1789.