Articles of Confederation – Primary Source Set
Evaluate how the Articles of Confederation attempted to address the challenges.
Background Information
This was the first governing document of the United States of America. It was adopted by the Second Continental Congress in November 1777 and ratified by the states in 1781. The Articles of Confederation contain thirteen articles and a conclusion. The Articles created an association of sovereign states.
The Articles of Confederation
| Text | Summarized | Problem It Addressed |
| III.
The said States hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, 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, or any of them, on account of religion, sovereignty, trade, or any other pretense whatever. |
The states are in an alliance, keeping an eye out for one another, protecting each other, and will do what it takes to make sure each is successful.
severally– separately or individually
mutual and general welfare– Here, the authors are saying that the states will do what is best for the common good. |
States are not on their own, if a state is attacked by Natives or a foreign county, the other states will help. |
| IV.
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 removed to the State having jurisdiction of his offense. |
If someone does something wrong in one state and runs to another, when they are found they will be returned to the state where the wrong was committed.
treason, felony, or other high misdemeanor- types of crimes
Jurisdiction- the official power to make legal decisions |
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| V.
In determining questions in the United States in Congress assembled, each State shall have one vote.
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In Congress, each state gets one vote. | |
| VI.
No State, without the consent of the United States in Congress assembled, shall send any embassy to, or receive any embassy from, or enter into any conference, agreement, alliance or treaty with any King, Prince or State; nor shall any person holding any office of profit or trust under the United States, or any of them, accept any present, emolument, office or title of any kind whatever from any King, Prince or foreign State; nor shall the United States in Congress assembled, or any of them, grant any title of nobility.
No two or more States shall enter into any treaty, confederation or alliance whatever between them, without the consent of the United States in Congress assembled, specifying accurately the purposes for which the same is to be entered into, and how long it shall continue.
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No state can make deals, alliances, or treaties with, or accept titles from or grant titles to another country. No states can enter into a treaty between themselves without permission from Congress.
embassy- official government representation in a foreign country
emolument- a salary, fee, or profit |
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| XII.
All bills of credit emitted, monies borrowed, and debts contracted by, or under the authority of Congress, before the assembling of the United States, in pursuance of the present confederation, shall be deemed and considered as a charge against the United States, for payment and satisfaction whereof the said United States, and the public faith are hereby solemnly pledge.
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All money borrowed, debts incurred, and money issued before the Articles of Confederation are still valid.
pursuance- carrying out of a plan |
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| XIII.
Every State shall abide by the determination of the United States in Congress assembled, on all questions which by this confederation are submitted to them. And the Articles of this Confederation shall be inviolably observed by every State, and the Union shall be perpetual; nor shall any alteration at any time hereafter be made in any of them; unless such alteration be agreed to in a Congress of the United States, and be afterwards confirmed by the legislatures of every State.
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All states must follow Congress’ decisions, the Articles must be strictly followed and any adjustments to the Articles need unanimous agreement.
inviolably- never to be broken
perpetual- continuing forever |