Which came first: the Articles of Confederation or the Declaration of Independence?

The Declaration of Independence came first. Here are the steps to understand why:

1. The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. This document was a statement adopted by the Second Continental Congress, which announced that the thirteen American colonies were now independent states, no longer under British rule.

2. The Articles of Confederation, on the other hand, were adopted by the Second Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, but they did not come into force until March 1, 1781, after all the states had ratified them. This document served as the first constitution of the United States.

So, the Declaration of Independence came before the Articles of Confederation.