Which document served as a foundation for the Constitution by outlining principles of governance?

The Articles of Confederation served as a foundation for the Constitution by outlining principles of governance during the early years of the United States. Established after the Revolutionary War, the Articles created a framework for the national government that included a unicameral legislature but lacked strong executive and judicial branches. This revealed significant weaknesses, such as the inability to levy taxes or regulate interstate commerce, prompting the need for a new and more effective governing document. The shortcomings of the Articles highlighted the necessity for a stronger federal government, ultimately leading to the Constitutional Convention and the drafting of the Constitution. Other documents mentioned, such as the Declaration of Independence, laid out ideals of liberty and individual rights but did not provide a comprehensive framework for governance like the Articles did. The Bill of Rights specifies individual freedoms but is part of the Constitution rather than a foundational document of governance. The Federalist Papers are persuasive essays that supported the ratification of the Constitution, discussing its principles, but they were written after the Constitution was proposed.