The Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution<span> of the United States, on November 15, 1777, but the states </span>did not ratify them until March 1, 1781. Also, t<span>he </span>Constitution<span> made federal law over state law. In </span>Article<span> I of the </span>Constitution<span>, Congress can regulate interstate commerce. ... In the </span>Constitution<span>, the government had the power to levy taxes. There also were financial problems with the </span>Articles of Confederation<span>.</span>
