Which document served as the foundation for the U.S. government before the Constitution?

The Articles of Confederation served as the foundation for the U.S. government before the Constitution. Ratified in 1781, the Articles created a decentralized government structure that emphasized state sovereignty. It established a framework in which the national government had limited powers, primarily focused on coordinating the activities of the states in areas like defense and foreign affairs. However, the Articles proved inadequate in addressing various challenges, such as effective taxation and regulation of commerce, leading to the Constitutional Convention in 1787, where the Constitution was drafted to create a stronger federal government.

The other documents mentioned, while significant, did not serve as the governmental framework prior to the Constitution. The Declaration of Independence announced the colonies' separation from Britain and outlined foundational principles of liberty and democracy but did not establish a government. The Bill of Rights, which comprises the first ten amendments to the Constitution, was introduced later to protect individual liberties and did not exist before the Constitution. The Federalist Papers were a series of essays written to support ratification of the Constitution and articulate its principles, but they were not a governing document themselves.