The Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation was the first written constitution of the United States, enacted in 1781. It established a loose federal government where states retained most independence and power, with a weak central authority lacking authority to tax or regulate commerce. The national government primarily coordinated defense and foreign relations but lacked the power to enforce laws or collect revenue effectively. This structure was intended to preserve state sovereignty but ultimately proved too weak to address national issues, leading to its replacement by the U.S. Constitution in 1789.