{"data":{"description":"Archiving Early America - Articles Of Confederation","title":"Articles of Confederation","post_type":"page","content":"\u003ch2 style=\"color: #ad8431;\"\u003eAppearing in a book entitled The Constitutions of the Several Independent States of America, printed in London, 1783.\u003c/h2\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003eBefore the Constitution....there was The \u003cstrong\u003eArticles of Confederation\u003c/strong\u003e — in effect, the first constitution of the United States. Drafted in 1777 by the same Continental Congress that passed the \u003ca style=\"color: #990000;\" href=\"/earlyamerica/freedom-documents/declaration-independence\"\u003eDeclaration of Independence\u003c/a\u003e, the articles established a \"firm league of friendship\" between and among the 13 states.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv id=\"mostpop\" style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli\u003eCreated during the throes of the \u003cstrong\u003eRevolutionary War\u003c/strong\u003e, the Articles reflect the wariness by the states of a \u003cstrong\u003estrong central government\u003c/strong\u003e. Afraid that their individual needs would be ignored by a national government with too much power, and the abuses that often result from such power, the Articles purposely established a \"constitution\" that vested the largest share of power to the individual states.\u003ca style=\"color: #990000;\" href=\"/earlyamerica/tour-early-americas-historic-sites-free-app/\"\u003eInstall Our App And Tour Early America's Historic Sites!\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\t\u003cli\u003e\u003ca style=\"color: #990000;\" href=\"/earlyamerica/ebooks/\"\u003eDownload Free eBooks from Early America's Past!\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003eUnder the Articles each of the states retained their \"sovereignty, freedom and independence.\" Instead of setting up executive and judicial branches of government, there was a committee of delegates composed of representatives from each state. These individuals comprised the Congress, a national legislature called for by the Articles.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003eThe Congress was responsible for conducting foreign affairs, declaring war or peace, maintaining an army and navy and a variety of other lesser functions. But the Articles \u003cstrong\u003edenied Congress the power to collect taxes, regulate interstate commerce and enforce laws.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003eEventually, these shortcomings would lead to the adoption of the U.S. Constitution. But during those years in which the 13 states were struggling to achieve their independent status, the Articles of Confederation stood them in good stead.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003eAdopted by Congress on November 15, 1777, the \u003cstrong\u003eArticles became operative on March 1, 1781\u003c/strong\u003e when the last of the 13 states signed on to the document.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"hr\" style=\"color: #990000;\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"lgtxt\" style=\"font-weight: bold; color: #000000;\"\u003e\r\n\u003cimg class=\"alignleft\" src=\"/images/earlyamerica/articles1.jpg\" alt=\"The Articles of Confederation\" width=\"202\" height=\"59\" /\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eRead the Original:\r\n\u003ca style=\"color: #990000;\" href=\"/earlyamerica/milestone-events/articles-confederation-images\"\u003eArticles of Confederation\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca style=\"color: #990000;\" href=\"/earlyamerica/milestone-events/articles-confederation-text\"\u003eText Version: Articles of Confederation\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"hr\" style=\"color: #990000;\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;","menu":[{"path":"lives-early-america","title":"Famous Lives","submenu":[{"path":"lives-early-america/autobiography-benjamin-franklin","title":"Autobiography of Ben Franklin"},{"path":"lives-early-america/ramsays-life-washington","title":"Ramsay's The Life of Washington"},{"path":"lives-early-america/adventures-col-daniel-boone","title":"The Adventures of Col. Daniel Boone"},{"path":"lives-early-america/true-story-paul-revere","title":"The True Story of Paul Revere"},{"path":"world-early-america/famous-obits","title":"Famous Obits"},{"path":"portrait","title":"Portraits"},{"path":"rare-images/last-men-revolution","title":"The Last Men of the Revolution"}]},{"path":"freedom-documents","title":"Freedom Documents","submenu":[{"path":"freedom-documents/bill-rights","title":"Bill of Rights"},{"path":"freedom-documents/declaration-independence","title":"Declaration of Independence"},{"path":"freedom-documents/u-s-constitution","title":"The U.S. Constitution"}]},{"path":"world-early-america","title":"World of Early America","submenu":[{"path":"bookmarks","title":"Early American Bookmarks"},{"path":"world-early-america/famous-obits","title":"Famous Obits"},{"path":"firsts","title":"Firsts!"},{"path":"rare-images/maps","title":"Maps"},{"path":"rare-images","title":"Rare Images"},{"path":"music1","title":"Music"},{"path":"writings","title":"The Writings of Early America"}]},{"path":"boston-massacre","title":"Boston Massacre"},{"path":"milestone-events","title":"Milestones"},{"path":"early-america-review","title":"The Review"},{"path":"home/teachers-students","title":"Teachers"},{"path":"sitemap","title":"Sitemap"}]},"success":true}