The Articles of Confederation were the first written constitution of the United States, created in 1777 and ratified in 1781. However, they ultimately proved to be ineffective in governing the country. The articles created a weak central government that lacked the power to tax or regulate commerce. This resulted in financial instability and challenges in conducting foreign policy. The states operated with significant autonomy, often making decisions that conflicted with one another, leading to a lack of unity and coordination. As a result of these issues, a movement for a new constitution emerged, and in 1787, the Constitutional Convention was convened to draft the U.S. Constitution, which replaced the Articles of Confederation in 1789.
