The country's first constitution was called the "Articles of Confederation." It was adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and served as the United States' first constitution. It was in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789 when the present-day Constitution went into effect. The Articles of Confederation established a "league of friendship" among the 13 sovereign and independent states, creating a very weak central government with limited powers.
