A few minor corrections ...
The Articles of Confederation were drafted in July 1776, same month as the Declaration. But the Continental Congress rejected it as creating too strong a government! Back to committee for some very minor tinkering. Finished up a year or so later, and quickly ratified by all but 2 states, and those 2 ratified in 1781, when the Articles became official. (The big holdup was getting NY and Virginia to give up their western claims, which is where the Northwest Territory came from.) Anyway, as a practical matter, we operated under the Articles from 1776 until the Constitution was ratified in 1789, and Geo. Washington was sworn in. (He became roughly the 10th man to hold the title "President of the United States," as there were several presidents elected at least annually by Congress under the Articles.)
The Articles weren't poorly drawn. They did just what they were supposed to do, and were exactly the constitution that the Founders wanted us to have. But they didn't create the kind of government that Federalists like Hamilton wanted. So here we are.