What document served as the United States' first constitution before the current Constitution took effect?
Articles of Confederation
The answer was Articles of Confederation. Here's the why, the decoys, and the source trail.
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The Articles of Confederation served as the United States' first constitution. It was in force from March 1, 1781, until the current Constitution took effect in 1789.
This answer is checked against National Archives: Articles of Confederation and National Archives: Articles of Confederation.
A good question makes the wrong answers feel close. Here is the clean read on the set.
- Declaration of Independence - a decoy; it may live near the same topic, but it does not answer this exact clue.
- Articles of Confederation - correct answer.
- Federalist Papers - a decoy; it may live near the same topic, but it does not answer this exact clue.
- Bill of Rights - a decoy; it may live near the same topic, but it does not answer this exact clue.
Articles of Confederation is the one to remember. The Articles of Confederation served as the United States' first constitution. The Articles created a loose union of states, which made national coordination difficult and helped drive the push for a new Constitution.
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Sources: National Archives, National Archives