Before the writing of the United States Constitution, the American colonies were operating under the system of government known as the Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation was adopted in 1777 and served as the first constitution of the United States. However, it was soon realized that the Articles of Confederation had several flaws, such as a weak central government and limited powers, which hindered effective governance. As a result, a constitutional convention was convened in 1787, leading to the drafting and subsequent ratification of the United States Constitution in 1788.
