Video: 'The Articles of Confederation - The Constitution Before the Constitution'

(Saturday, November 15, 1777; during the American Revolutionary War, part of the American Revolution) — After more than a year of debate, the Second Continental Congress today approved the Articles of Confederation, an agreement among the 13 original states of the United States of America that served as its first constitution.

The Articles of Confederation came into force on Mar. 1, 1781, after being ratified by all 13 states.