Before the Constitution

The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of America.  The nation struggle under this sytem because it could not print money.  Congress could borrow money but could not pay it back because any money it printed was worthless.  In addition, the nation could not defend itself from an invading nation.  There was no national militia that could protect the citizens.  Government officials recognized that a better system of government was needed, and so they met in Philedelphia to debate the merits of different ways of managing government.