Articles of Confederation

Examples of Articles of Confederation in the following topics:

• Powers of the American Government Under the Articles of Confederation

  • The Articles of confederation gave few but important powers of diplomacy to the American government.
  • The states did not generally comply with the requests in full, leaving the confederation chronically short of funds.
  • Nevertheless, the Congress of the Confederation did take two actions with lasting impact.
  • The Northwest Ordinance was one of the few accomplishments under the Articles of Confederation.
  • Discuss how power was distributed and enforced under the Articles of Confederation

• The Articles of Confederation

  • The Articles of Confederation established a confederacy-type government among the new American states.
  • The Articles of Confederation were established in 1777 by the Second Continental Congress .
  • The Articles provided that a Congress, consisting of two to seven members per state, would hold legislative power.
  • Also, the Articles required the approval of all states for certain important decisions such as making Amendments.
  • Explain the historical origins and purpose of The Articles of Confederation

• The Annapolis Convention

  • The Annapolis Convention, led by Alexander Hamilton, was one of two conventions that met to amend the Articles of Confederation.
  • Long dissatisfied with the weak Articles of Confederation, Alexander Hamilton of New York played a major leadership role in drafting a resolution for a constitutional convention, which was later to be called the Annapolis Convention.
  • The defects that the convention was to remedy were those barriers that limited trade or commerce between the largely independent states under the Articles of Confederation.
  • The convention, named A Meeting of Commissioners to Remedy Defects of the Federal Government, met from September 11 to September 14, 1786.
  • Discuss the impact of the Annapolis Convention on the U.S.

• The Constitutional Convention

  • The Constitutional Convention was established in 1787 to replace the Articles of Confederation with a national constitution for all states.
  • The convention was held to address problems in governing the United States, which had been operating under the Articles of Confederation following independence from Great Britain.
  • Under the Articles of Confederation, each state had equal representation in Congress, exercising one vote each.
  • Under the New Jersey Plan, the unicameral legislature with one vote per state was inherited from the Articles of Confederation .
  • Discuss the circumstances leading to the Constitutional Convention and the replacement of the Articles of Confederation

• The Virginia and New Jersey Plans

  • The Constitutional Convention gathered in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation.
  • Under the New Jersey Plan, the unicameral legislature with one vote per state was inherited from the Articles of Confederation.
  • The plan proposed that the Articles of Confederation should be amended as follows:
  • The Articles of Confederation and treaties would be proclaimed as the supreme law of the land.
  • Compare and contrast the Virginia Plan, the New Jersey Plan, and the Connecticut Compromise regarding the revision of the Articles of Confederation.

• Impact of the Articles of Confederation

  • The Articles of Confederation, while riddled with problems, did have lasting effects.
  • The Confederation Congress did take two actions with long-lasting impact.
  • Also, the Confederation faced several difficulties in its early years.
  • Under the Articles of Confederation, the central government's power was kept quite limited.
  • Implementation of most decisions, including modifications to the articles, required unanimous approval of all 13 state legislatures.

• Federalists and Antifederalists

  • While the Constitutional Convention was held to revise the Articles of Confederation, an entirely new constitution was drafted.
  • In 1787, a convention was called in Philadelphia with the declared purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation.
  • Under the Articles, each state had one vote in Congress.
  • Those who favored ratification were known as Federalists,while those who opposed it were considered Anti- Federalists.The Federalists attacked the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
  • One of the Anti-Federalist's strongest arguments was the Constitution's lack of a Bill of Rights.

• The Bill of Rights

  • Prior to the acceptance and implementation of the United States Constitution, the original 13 colonies followed the stipulations and agreements set forth in the Articles of Confederation, created by the Second Continental Congress and ratified in 1781.
  • The Articles of Confederation established the United States of America as a confederation of sovereign states and served as its first constitution .
  • The national government that operated under the Articles of Confederation was too weak however to adequately regulate the various conflicts that arose between the states.
  • The Philadelphia Convention set out to correct weaknesses inherent in the Articles of Confederation.
  • The Articles of Confederation, ratified in 1781.

• Political Strife and American Independence

  • That same day the Virginia Convention instructed its delegation in Philadelphia to propose a resolution that called for a declaration of independence, the formation of foreign alliances, and a confederation of the states.
  • The records of the Continental Congress confirm that the need for a declaration of independence was intimately linked with the demands of international relations.
  • He also urged Congress to resolve "to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances" and to prepare a plan of confederation for the newly independent states.
  • Congress would formally adopt the resolution of independence, but only after creating three overlapping committees to draft the Declaration, a Model Treaty, and the Articles of Confederation.
  • The Declaration announced the states' entry into the international system; the model treaty was designed to establish amity and commerce with other states; and the Articles of Confederation established "a firm league" among the thirteen free and independent states.

• Article VI

  • Article Six of the United States Constitution establishes the Constitution and the laws and treaties of the United States made in accordance with it as the supreme law of the land.
  • All debts contracted and engagements entered into, before the adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.
  • This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.
  • The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.