What was America's first constitution that created a weak national government?

The Articles of Confederation served as America's first constitution and established a framework for a national government following independence from Great Britain. Ratified in 1781, it created a confederation of sovereign states bound together for common purposes, but it resulted in a significantly weak national government with limited power.

Under the Articles, the national government lacked the authority to impose taxes or regulate interstate commerce, which led to various challenges such as economic instability and difficulties in enforcing laws. This weakness became evident when states began acting independently, creating trade barriers and not fully cooperating, ultimately prompting calls for a stronger central government. The limitations of the Articles of Confederation highlighted the need for a more robust framework, which later led to the drafting of the Constitution of 1787.

Options like the Bill of Rights, which outlines individual freedoms and protections, and the Federalist Papers, which were essays advocating for the ratification of the Constitution, do not constitute the governance structure itself. The Constitution of 1787 replaced the Articles and established a stronger federal system. Thus, the Articles of Confederation is the correct answer, as it directly represents the initial attempt at structuring the national government with notably weak powers.