Which document was originally governing the USA before The Constitution?

The Articles of Confederation served as the original governing document for the United States before the Constitution was adopted. Ratified in 1781, this framework established a confederation among the states, outlining a system of governance that provided for a limited central authority.

The Articles aimed to unite the states while granting them significant independence; however, they ultimately revealed weaknesses, such as the lack of a strong federal government, inability to levy taxes, and challenges in regulating commerce. These limitations illustrated the need for a more robust governing structure, ultimately leading to the Constitutional Convention and the drafting of the Constitution in 1787.

The Bill of Rights, while significant for protecting individual liberties, was adopted later in 1791 as the first ten amendments to the Constitution. The Declaration of Independence is a foundational document asserting the colonies' separation from British rule but does not establish a governmental framework. The Federalist Papers are essays promoting the ratification of the Constitution and providing insight into its principles but also were not governing documents themselves. Thus, the Articles of Confederation is clearly identified as the document that governed prior to the current Constitution.