Articles of The Confederation 1781 PDF
Articles of The Confederation 1781 PDF
Articles of The Confederation 1781 PDF
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
While the Declaration of Independence was under consideration in
the Continental Congress, and before it was finally agreed upon, meas-
ures were taken for the establishment of a constitutional form of govern-
ment; and on the 11th of June, 1776, it was ‘‘Resolved, That a committee
be appointed to prepare and digest the form of a confederation to be
entered into between these Colonies’’; which committee was appointed
the next day, June 12, and consisted of a member from each Colony,
namely: Mr. Bartlett, Mr. S. Adams, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Sherman, Mr.
R. R. Livingston, Mr. Dickinson, Mr. McKean, Mr. Stone, Mr. Nelson,
Mr. Hewes, Mr. E. Rutledge, and Mr. Gwinnett. On the 12th of July,
1776, the committee reported a draft of the Articles of Confederation,
which was printed for the use of the members under the strictest injunc-
tions of secrecy.
This report underwent a thorough discussion in Congress, from time
to time, until the 15th of November, 1777; on which day, ‘‘Articles
of Confederation and Perpetual Union’’ were finally agreed to in form,
and they were directed to be proposed to the legislatures of all the
United States, and if approved by them, they were advised to authorize
their delegates to ratify the same in the Congress of the United States;
and in that event they were to become conclusive. On the 17th of Novem-
ber, 1777, the Congress agreed upon the form of a circular letter to
accompany the Articles of Confederation, which concluded with a rec-
ommendation to each of the several legislatures ‘‘to invest its delegates
with competent powers, ultimately, and in the name and behalf of the
State, to subscribe articles of confederation and perpetual union of the
United States, and to attend Congress for that purpose on or before
the 10th day of March next.’’ This letter was signed by the President
of Congress and sent, with a copy of the articles, to each State legisla-
ture.
On the 26th of June, 1778, Congress agreed upon the form of a
ratification of the Articles of Confederation, and directed a copy of the
articles and the ratification to be engrossed on parchment; which, on
the 9th of July, 1778, having been examined and the blanks filled,
was signed by the delegates of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay,
Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, Penn-
sylvania, Virginia, and South Carolina. Congress then directed that a
circular letter be addressed to the States whose delegates were not
present, or being present, conceived they were not authorized to sign
the ratification, informing them how many and what States had ratified
the Articles of Confederation, and desiring them, with all convenient
dispatch, to authorize their delegates to ratify the same. Of these States,
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North Carolina ratified on the 21st and Georgia on the 24th of July,
1778; New Jersey on the 26th of November following; Delaware on
the 5th of May, 1779; Maryland on the 1st of March, 1781; and on
the 2d of March, 1781, Congress assembled under the new form of
government.
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ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION 1
at York, Pennsylvania, which served as the site of the National Capital from
September 30, 1777, to June 27, 1778. Ratification of the Articles by the respective
delegates commenced on July 9, 1778, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but was
not completed until March 1, 1781, when the Articles were signed by the delegates
from Maryland.
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1231.4 ARTICLE III. The said states hereby severally enter into
a firm league of friendship with each other, for their com-
mon defence, the security of their Liberties, and their
mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist
each other, against all force offered to, or attacks made
upon them, or any of them, on account of religion, sov-
ereignty, trade, or any other pretence whatever.
1231.5 ARTICLE IV. The better to secure and perpetuate mutual
friendship and intercourse among the people of the dif-
ferent states in this union, the free inhabitants of each
of these states, paupers, vagabonds and fugitives from
Justice excepted, shall be entitled to all privileges and
immunities of free citizens in the several states, and the
people of each state shall have free ingress and regress
to and from any other state, and shall enjoy therein all
the privileges of trade and commerce, subject to the same
duties, impositions and restrictions as the inhabitants
thereof respectively, provided that such restrictions shall
not extend so far as to prevent the removal of property
imported into any state, to any other state of which the
Owner is an inhabitant, provided also that no imposition,
duties or restriction shall be laid by any state, on the
property of the united states, or either of them.
If any Person guilty of, or charged with treason, felony
or other high misdemeanor in any state, shall flee from
Justice, and be found in any of the united states, he
shall upon demand of the Governor or executive power,
of the state from which he fled, be delivered up and re-
moved to the state having jurisdiction of his offence.
Full faith and credit shall be given in each of these
states to the records, acts and judicial proceedings of the
courts and magistrates of every other state.
1231.6 ARTICLE V. For the more convenient management of
the general interest of the united states, delegates shall
be annually appointed in such manner as the legislature
of each state shall direct, to meet in Congress on the
first Monday in November, in every year, with a power
reserved to each state, to recall its delegates, or any of
them, at any time within the year, and to send others
in their stead, for the remainder of the Year.
No state shall be represented in Congress by less than
two, nor by more than seven Members; and no person
shall be capable of being a delegate for more than three
years in any term of six years; nor shall any person,
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On the part and in behalf of the State of Rhode Island and Providence
Plantations.
WILLIAM ELLERY, JOHN COLLINS.
HENRY MARCHANT,
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