Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation, written in 1776, became the first constitution adopted by the rebelling American colonies to unite them under a common government. The Articles bridged the gap between the time the thirteen colonies broke from Great Britain in 1776 and adopted the Constitution of the United States of America in 1788.

Prior to the revolutionary period, the American colonies functioned separately. By standing together against the imperial conduct of Great Britain during the 1760s and 1770s, the colonies began to feel a sense of unity. As talk of independence spread, revolutionaries turned their thoughts to establishing a new nation.

Beginning in May 1775, delegates from the colonies gathered at the Second Continental Congress to discuss independence from Britain and to define an independent government. (See Continental Congress, Second .) While one committee produced the Declaration of Independence , another sought to create a document that would bring the independent states together under a central government.

A first draft of the Articles of Confederation was presented as early as July 12, 1776. Congress approved a final draft and sent it to the states on November 15, 1777. Every state was required to ratify, or accept, the document before it became official. The American Revolution (1775–83) and political differences between the states delayed ratification (acceptance) for nearly five years. Congress started to function as defined by the Articles as soon as a majority of states had accepted it, but the document was not fully ratified until March 1, 1781.

The Articles of Confederation reflected the conflicts between the colonies and the imposing rule of the British government. State independence was well protected under the Articles. States maintained control over imposing taxes, regulating commerce, and enlisting troops. States were to support national efforts through participation of their delegates at Congress and contributions of their troops and money to the central government.

Under the Articles, there were no balanced branches of government; Congress was the national government. Congress held power over war, foreign policy, foreign loans, regulation of money, and Indian trade. Each state sent two to seven delegates to Congress annually, but each state had only one vote. A simple majority of states normally decided issues, although for the most important ones the consent of nine states was required. Amendments to the Articles of Confederation required unanimous support.

The national government established by the Articles struggled to assert enough control to accomplish its tasks. Dependent on the generosity of the states for war expenses, soldiers, and military supplies, Congress had trouble managing the Revolutionary War. The politics of congressional committees, constantly changing delegates, and the nine-state requirement for approving some changes further hampered Congress's ability to function.

In spite of the difficulties presented by the Articles of Confederation, Congress functioned well enough to carry the new nation through its first years. Congress successfully organized a federal government and raised an army that waged an eventually victorious war. Congress took charge of negotiating foreign alliances and loans with France and other nations, as well as a peace treaty with Great Britain in September 1783. Congress worked to bring national stability and unity with such institutions as a national bank and a standard currency.

Eventually, however, the men who controlled the national government wanted it to have greater powers. With support from influential men such as George Washington (1732–1799; served 1789–97), the states called for a national constitutional convention in 1787. The Constitution written at that convention was ratified by the states in 1788, turning the Articles from a functional document into a historical one.