The Articles of Confederation
The newly independent colonies’ first attempt at forming a legal relationship was with the Articles of Confederation. This document was adopted by the Second Continental Congress in November 1777 and not ratified by the thirteen states until 1781.
The document set forth “Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union between the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts-bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.” These states agreed to enter into a “firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare.” The document does not mention a “nation,” or a “national government.”