The Articles of Confederation was the original binding document of the United States and served as the supreme law of the land from March 1, 1781 until the ratification of the United States Constitution (on June 21, 1788). The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union were adopted by the 2nd Continental Congress on November 15th, 1777. They sought to combine the disparate colonies under a single governmental entity. They were the first attempt at a government.