The First U. S. Constitution

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The First U. S. Constitution

• The Articles of Confederation

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Drafting the Articles

• First drafted by John Dickinson, adopted by
  Congress in 1777 approved by states by 1781.
• Big impediment for adoption was the debate over
  western lands did large states with sea-to-sea
  charters get to keep their western lands? Md.
  wouldnt ratify until NY and VA ceded landsdone
  in March 1781.

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Features of Articles-1

• Establishes the name of the confederation as "The
  United States of America."
• Asserts the precedence of the separate states
  over the confederation government, i.e. "Each
  state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and
  independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and
  right, which is not by this Confederation
  expressly delegated."
• Establishes the United States as a league of
  states united ". . . for their common defense,
  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 . . . ."
• Establishes freedom of movementanyone can pass
  freely between states, excluding "paupers,
  vagabonds, and fugitives from justice." All
  people are entitled to the rights established by
  the state into which he travels. If a crime is
  committed in one state and the perpetrator flees
  to another state, he will be extradited to and
  tried in the state in which the crime was
  committed.
• Allocates one vote in the Congress of the
  Confederation (United States in Congress
  Assembled) to each state, which was entitled to a
  delegation of between two and seven members.
  Members of Congress were appointed by state
  legislatures individuals could not serve more
  than three out of any six years.

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Features of Articles-2

• Only the central government is allowed to conduct
  foreign relations and to declare war. No states
  may have navies or standing armies, or engage in
  war, without permission of Congress (although the
  state militias are encouraged).
• When an army is raised for common defense,
  colonels and military ranks below colonel will be
  named by the state legislatures.
• Expenditures by the United States will be paid by
  funds raised by state legislatures, and
  apportioned to the states based on the real
  property values of each.
• Defines the powers of the central government to
  declare war, to set weights and measures
  (including coins), and for Congress to serve as a
  final court for disputes between states.
• Defines a Committee of the States to be a
  government when Congress is not in session.
• Requires nine states to approve the admission of
  a new state into the confederacy pre-approves
  Canada, if it applies for membership.
• Reaffirms that the Confederation accepts war debt
  incurred by Congress before the Articles.
• Declares that the Articles are perpetual, and can
  only be altered by approval of Congress with
  ratification by all the state legislatures.

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Presidents of the United States in Congress
Assembled

• Samuel Huntington (March 1, 1781 July 9, 1781)
• Thomas McKean (July 10, 1781 November 4, 1781)
• John Hanson (November 5, 1781 November 3,
  1782)
• Elias Boudinot (November 4, 1782 November 2,
  1783)
• Thomas Mifflin (November 3, 1783 October 31,
  1784)
• Richard Henry Lee (November 30, 1784 November
  6, 1785)
• John Hancock (November 23, 1785 May 29, 1786)
• Nathaniel Gorham (June 6, 1786 November 5,
  1786)
• Arthur St. Clair (February 2, 1787 November 4,
  1787)
• Cyrus Griffin (January 22, 1788 November 2,
  1788)

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The Articles of Confederation

• Since they were replaced, most have focused on
  its weaknesses, but under the articles, there
  were important achievements
• Peace with Britain was secured (Treaty of Paris,
  1783)
• Western Land and Territorial Policy was developed
  (Land Ordinance of 1785, Northwest Ordinance of
  1787)

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Land Ordinance of 1785

• Survey and Sale
• Public Land into Private Hands

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Northwest Ordinance

• Abolition of state claims
• Admission of new states
• Establishment of territorial government
• Establishment of civil rights
• Prohibition of slavery
• Definition of the Midwest as a region
• Effects on Native Americans

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