The Confederation Congress & the ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

The SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS & the… LEE RESOLUTION LEE RESOLUTION (June 7, 1776) “Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES… That a PLAN OF CONFEDERATION be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation.” JUNE 12, 1776 Second Continental Congress appointed a committee to PREPARE A DRAFT OF A CONSTITUTION for a union of the states! (Dickinson presents draft in July 1776) Second Continental Congress appointed a committee to PREPARE A DRAFT OF A CONSTITUTION for a union of the states! (Dickinson presents draft in July 1776)  …would then be sent to the States in NOV & ratified by the States in MAR. 1781! LEE RESOLUTION SERVED THREE PURPOSES! * In March 1781, one month after ratification, the Second Continental Congress became the CONGRESS OF THE CONFEDERATION *

CONGRESS OF THE CONFEDERATION State Government The CONGRESS OF THE CONFEDERATION & the… ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION “…was a document signed amongst the 13 original States that established the United States of America as a CONFEDERATION of SOVEREIGN STATES and served as its FIRST CONSTITUTION.” (proposed to the States November 15, 1777)

THINK THINK: “Why were the Articles of Confederation of utmost importance to the delegates to the Second Continental Congress?” PROVIDED INTERNATIONAL LEGITIMACY – the basis for foreign aid & diplomacy 1.) PROVIDED INTERNATIONAL LEGITIMACY – the basis for foreign aid & diplomacy (helped transform the States from ‘Outlaws’ into a legitimate State) CREATED UNITY among the 13 States during the Rev. War 2.) CREATED UNITY among the 13 States during the Rev. War Created a BLUEPRINT FOR LEADERSHIP guidance during & after the Rev. War 3.) Created a BLUEPRINT FOR LEADERSHIP guidance during & after the Rev. War Created a STRONGER UNION & GOVERNMENT strong enough to fend off Great Britain 4.) Created a STRONGER UNION & GOVERNMENT strong enough to fend off Great Britain Why the… ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

ABOUT THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION TYPE OF GOVERNMENT Confederation Sovereignty: each State THREE BRANCHES Legislative BranchUNICAMERAL 1 VOTE Legislative Branch: UNICAMERAL – States had 1 VOTE 9 out of 13 states were necessary to pass laws Strengths & Weaknesses? Executive & Legislative Branches Executive & Legislative Branches: None Strengths & Weaknesses? THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION AS A CONSTITUTION… 13 out of 13 states had to OK for an amendment All powers not delegated to Congress were left to States

ABOUT THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION MISCELLANEOUS TAX Power to TAX? NOPE! (why a problem?) REGULATE TRADE Power to REGULATE TRADE? NOPE! PRINT MONEY & MAKE LOANS Power to PRINT MONEY & MAKE LOANS? Yes GOVERN WESTERN TERRITORIES Power to GOVERN WESTERN TERRITORIES? Yes WAR POWERS NEGOTIATE TREATIES Power to NEGOTIATE TREATIES? Yes DECLARE WAR Power to DECLARE WAR? Yes ARMY NAVY Power to raise an ARMY and NAVY? Yes DRAFT TROOPS Power to DRAFT TROOPS? NOPE! (why a problem?)

THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION MINI-QUIZ “The Articles of Confederation created a President to lead the country.” “States were still independent under the Articles.” “It was a fairly simple process to change the Articles.” “Under the Articles of Confederation, the more people a state had, the more votes it got in Congress.” “The Congress created by the Articles did not have the power to collect taxes.” “Under the Articles, States had to obey the laws Congress passed.” “When planning for the Constitution, delegates at the Second Continental Congress agreed that the central government should have more power.” “For the most part, the States under the Articles got along well with one another.”

JUNE 7, 1776 Richard Henry Lee proposes the Lee Resolution Lee proposes a resolution that calls for drafting a declaration of independence and a CONFEDERAL plan of government. JUNE 12, 1776 Congressional committee is appointed to draft the Articles of Confederation Congress appoints a committee chaired by JOHN DICKINSON to draft the plan of confederation. JULY 2, 1776 Congressional committee submits draft of the Articles to Congress John Dickinson's draft of the ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION is submitted to Congress for debate and revision NOVEMBER 15, 1777 Congress completes the Articles The final version of the Articles of Confederation is adopted by Congress and submitted to the states for ratification (approval). MARCH 1, 1781 Establishment of the United States government * Maryland ratifies the Articles of Confederation, formally establishing the first government of the United States and “creating” the CONFEDERATION CONGRESS. * OCTOBER 17, 1781 Surrender at Yorktown and the end of the Revolutionary War British General Charles Cornwallis surrenders to the Continental Army at Yorktown, Virginia, ending the Revolutionary war between the United States and Great Britain. MAY 25, 1787 Meeting of the Philadelphia Convention Delegates from all states except Rhode Island meet in Philadelphia for the purpose of REVISING the Articles of Confederation.

The United States of America (1780s) AFTER THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR