Which document was a precursor to the U.S. Constitution?

The Articles of Confederation served as the first constitution for the United States and established a framework for national government following independence from Britain. Ratified in 1781, this document created a confederation of sovereign states and emphasized a weak central government, which ultimately revealed significant limitations in governing the newly formed nation, such as the inability to levy taxes or regulate commerce effectively.

The experiences and challenges faced under the Articles of Confederation highlighted the need for a stronger federal government, leading to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The resulting U.S. Constitution addressed these weaknesses by establishing a more powerful and centralized government with checks and balances, a separation of powers, and a system of federalism.

Other documents mentioned, such as the Bill of Rights, were adopted later as amendments to safeguard individual liberties. The Federalist Papers were written to advocate for the ratification of the Constitution itself, and the Magna Carta, while influential in shaping ideas about governance and individual rights, predates the U.S. and does not directly connect to its constitutional development. Hence, the Articles of Confederation are rightly recognized as a direct predecessor to the U.S. Constitution.