Which document established the first government of the United States?

The Articles of Confederation served as the first governing document of the United States, establishing a system for a national government following the Declaration of Independence. Ratified in 1781, the Articles created a confederation of sovereign states and a weak central authority. This document laid the groundwork for the first federal government, delineating powers and responsibilities among the states while attempting to create unity among them.

While the Constitution ultimately replaced the Articles, it was not the first governing document; rather, it was a response to the weaknesses identified in the Articles. The Bill of Rights, though crucial to American law and civil liberties, was adopted later as amendments to the Constitution to protect individual freedoms. The Federalist Papers were a series of essays promoting the ratification of the Constitution, but they did not establish government themselves. Thus, the Articles of Confederation remains significant as it represents the initial effort to unite the states under a common governmental framework.