Before the ratification of the Constitution, the United States used a system of government known as the Articles of Confederation. Under the Articles, the country operated as a confederation, where power was primarily held by the individual states rather than a central national government. The Articles created a weak central government with limited authority, lacking the power to collect taxes, regulate commerce, or enforce laws effectively. This system proved to be ineffective in providing stability and unity, leading to the Constitutional Convention and the subsequent adoption of the United States Constitution in 1789.
