Which document did the Constitution replace?

The Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation, which was the first governing document of the United States. The Articles were adopted in 1781 and established a confederation among the thirteen states, but they had significant weaknesses. These included a lack of a strong central government, no executive branch to enforce laws, and no federal authority to tax or regulate commerce effectively. The shortcomings of the Articles led to various issues, including economic instability and difficulty in making decisions on important national matters.

In response to these challenges, the Constitutional Convention was convened in 1787, resulting in the drafting of the current Constitution. This new document established a stronger federal government with a system of checks and balances among the three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. By replacing the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution aimed to create a more effective and unifying framework for governance in the new nation.