TheArticlesofConfederation,adoptedbytheContinentalCongressin1777andratifiedin1781,servedasthefirstconstitutionoftheUnitedStates.Thisdocumentestablishedalooseconfederationofsovereignstateswithaweakcentralgovernment,reflectingthecolonies'distrustofstrongauthorityaftertheirexperiencewithBritishrule.KeyprovisionsincludedaunicameralCongresswithlimitedpowers,noexecutiveorjudicialbranches,andarequirementforunanimousstateapprovaltoamendtheArticles.WhileitsuccessfullyguidedthenationthroughtheRevolutionaryWar,itsweaknessesbecameapparentinpeacetime,leadingtoeconomicinstabilityanddifficultiesingovernance.TheseshortcomingsultimatelypromptedthedraftingoftheU.S.Constitutionin1787tocreateastrongerfederalsystem.TheArticlesremainanimportanthistoricaldocumentthatshapedearlyAmericangovernmentandhighlightedthechallengesofbalancingstatesovereigntywithnationalunity.
