[United States Senate Manual, 117th Congress]
[S. Doc. 117-1]
[Historical Documents]
[Pages 537-538]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 537]]

                                       [1701]

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                              ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

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                                HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

                While the Declaration of Independence was under 
            consideration in the Continental Congress, and before it was 
            finally agreed upon, measures were taken for the 
            establishment of a constitutional form of government; 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 injunctions 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 November, 1777, the Congress agreed upon the 
            form of a circular letter to accompany the Articles of 
            Confederation, which concluded with a recommendation 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 
            legislature.
                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, 
            Pennsylvania, 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,

[[Page 538]]

            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.
                              articles of confederation

            articles of confederation