Which document did the United States Constitution replace as the nation's governing framework?

The United States Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation as the nation's governing framework.

The Articles were adopted by the Continental Congress in 1777 and took effect after all thirteen states ratified them in 1781. They created a confederation in which the states retained most governing power and the central Congress had limited authority.

Problems with the Articles included the national government's inability to impose taxes directly, regulate interstate commerce effectively, or enforce many congressional decisions. These weaknesses contributed to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787.

The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and became operational in 1789. It created a stronger federal government with executive and judicial branches, while retaining a federal structure. The Articles were not the Declaration of Independence; the Declaration announced separation from Great Britain, whereas the Articles served as the first national governing framework.