It's a question that often pops up when we're looking back at the very beginnings of the United States: when exactly did the Articles of Confederation get ratified? This foundational document, the first constitution of the USA, wasn't a quick adoption. While it was actually approved by the Continental Congress in November 1777, its journey to becoming the law of the land took a bit longer.
Think of it like this: the Congress agreed on the terms, but for it to truly take effect, all thirteen states had to give their official stamp of approval. This process of ratification by the individual states was a crucial step, and it wasn't completed until March 1, 1781. So, while the ideas were solidified in '77, the Articles officially governed the new nation from 1781 until 1789. It was during this period that they consolidated the gains of the American Revolution and set up a republican form of government, aiming for an "eternal union of states."
