~ by James Still ~
The Articles of Confederation (and Perpetual Union) was approved by Congress on November 15, 1777 and went into effect on March 1, 1781, following the ratification by all 13 States. There was no provision for a president, judiciary or means of taxation. Congress noted it would be impossible to agree on every political view. It was “of the absolute necessity”, however, to unite “all our councils and all our strength to maintain and defend our common liberties…” The Articles of Confederation ultimately failed, but helped to inspire the U.S. Constitution. Here are a few highlights of America’s first Constitution.
“Article 2. Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress…
Article 3. The said States hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare…
Article 4. The better to secure and perpetuate mutual friendship… the people of each State shall [have] free ingress and regress to and from any other State, and enjoy therein all the privileges of trade and commerce…
Article 5. … delegates shall be annually appointed in such manner as the legislatures of each State shall direct…
Article 9. The United States in Congress assembled, shall have the sole and exclusive right and power of determining on peace and war…
Article 11. Canada acceding to this confederation, and adjoining in the measures of the United States, shall be admitted into, and entitled to all the advantages of this Union…” Journals of Congress, Articles of Confederation, November 15, 1777
James Still (Mar 2018), RetraceOurSteps.com
“Article 13. Every State shall abide by the determination of the United States in Congress assembled, on all questions which by this confederation are submitted to them. And the Articles of this Confederation shall be inviolably observed by every State, and the Union shall be perpetual…” Journals of Congress, Articles of Confederation, November 15, 1777
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“We have finished the confederation and it will go forward to the States in a few days, with strong exhortation to consider and return it quickly. In this great business, dear Sir, we must yield a little to each other, and not rigidly insist on having everything correspondent to the partial views of every State.” Richard Henry Lee, Letter to Roger Sherman, November 24, 1777
“… should we wander from [the Founding Principles]… let us hasten to retrace our steps and to regain the road which alone leads to peace, liberty, and safety.” Thomas Jefferson, First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1801
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