The First Constitution: A Nation's Founding Document

what document served as the country

The Articles of Confederation, officially the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, served as the United States' first constitution. It was adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and came into force on March 1, 1781, after being ratified by all 13 colonial states. The document established a league of friendship for the 13 sovereign and independent states, with each state retaining every power not expressly delegated to the United States.

Characteristics Values
Name Articles of Confederation
Date 1777
Date in force 1781-1789
Purpose To establish a "league of friendship" for the 13 sovereign and independent states
Representation in Congress Each state had one vote
Ratification Ratification by all 13 states was necessary
Location of debate Independence Hall, Philadelphia

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The Articles of Confederation served as the United States' first constitution

The Articles of Confederation, officially the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, served as the United States' first constitution. It was an agreement and early body of law in the Thirteen Colonies, which served as the nation's first frame of government during the American Revolution. It was debated by the Second Continental Congress inside present-day Independence Hall in Philadelphia between July 1776 and November 1777, was finalised by the Congress on November 15, 1777, and came into force on March 1, 1781, after being ratified by all 13 colonial states. A central and guiding principle of the Articles was the establishment and preservation of the independence and sovereignty of the original 13 states. Each state retained "every Power... which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States". The Articles of Confederation also outlined a Congress with representation not based on population – each state would have one vote in Congress. Ratification by all 13 states was necessary to set the Confederation into motion. Because of disputes over representation, voting, and the western lands claimed by some states, ratification was delayed. When Maryland ratified it on March 1, 1781, the Congress of the Confederation came into being. The Articles of Confederation were in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789 when the present-day Constitution went into effect. The Constitution was written and signed in Philadelphia in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. This was the same place the Declaration of Independence was signed. The Constitution was written during the Philadelphia Convention—now known as the Constitutional Convention—which convened from May 25 to September 17, 1787. It was signed on September 17, 1787.

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The document was adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777

The Articles of Confederation, officially the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, served as the United States' first constitution. It was adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and came into force on March 1, 1781, after being ratified by all 13 colonial states. It was an agreement and early body of law in the Thirteen Colonies, which served as the nation's first frame of government during the American Revolution.

The Articles of Confederation established a "league of friendship" for the 13 sovereign and independent states. Each state retained "every Power...which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States". The document also outlined a Congress with representation not based on population – each state would have one vote in Congress. Ratification by all 13 states was necessary to set the Confederation into motion. Because of disputes over representation, voting, and the western lands claimed by some states, ratification was delayed.

The Articles of Confederation were debated by the Second Continental Congress inside present-day Independence Hall in Philadelphia between July 1776 and November 1777. It was finalized by the Congress on November 15, 1777, and was signed in the same place as the Declaration of Independence. The Articles of Confederation were in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789 when the present-day Constitution went into effect.

cycivic

The Articles of Confederation established a 'league of friendship' for the 13 sovereign and independent states

The Articles of Confederation, officially the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, served as the first constitution of the United States. It was an agreement and early body of law in the Thirteen Colonies, which served as the nation's first frame of government during the American Revolution. The document established a "league of friendship" for the 13 sovereign and independent states. Each state retained "every Power...which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States". The Articles of Confederation also outlined a Congress with representation not based on population – each state would have one vote in Congress. Ratification by all 13 states was necessary to set the Confederation into motion.

The Articles of Confederation were debated by the Second Continental Congress inside present-day Independence Hall in Philadelphia between July 1776 and November 1777. They were finalised by the Congress on November 15, 1777, and came into force on March 1, 1781, after being ratified by all 13 colonial states. A central and guiding principle of the Articles was the establishment and preservation of the independence and sovereignty of the original 13 states. The Articles of Confederation were in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789 when the present-day Constitution went into effect.

cycivic

The document outlined a Congress with representation not based on population

The Articles of Confederation, officially the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, served as the United States' first constitution. It was adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and came into force on March 1, 1781, after being ratified by all 13 colonial states. The document outlined a Congress with representation not based on population. Each state would have one vote in Congress, regardless of its population size. This was a contentious issue, as disputes over representation, voting, and the western lands claimed by some states delayed ratification.

The Articles of Confederation established a "league of friendship" for the 13 sovereign and independent states. Each state retained "every Power...which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States". A central and guiding principle of the Articles was the establishment and preservation of the independence and sovereignty of the original 13 states.

The Articles of Confederation served as the nation's first frame of government during the American Revolution. It was debated by the Second Continental Congress inside present-day Independence Hall in Philadelphia between July 1776 and November 1777. The document was finalized by the Congress on November 15, 1777, and remained in force until 1789 when the present-day Constitution went into effect.

cycivic

The Articles of Confederation were signed in the same place as the Declaration of Independence

The Articles of Confederation served as the United States' first constitution. It was adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and came into force on March 1, 1781, after being ratified by all 13 colonial states. The Articles of Confederation established a "league of friendship" for the 13 sovereign and independent states. Each state retained "every Power...which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to the United States". The document also outlined a Congress with representation not based on population – each state would have one vote in Congress.

The Articles of Confederation were debated by the Second Continental Congress inside present-day Independence Hall in Philadelphia between July 1776 and November 1777. This is the same place the Declaration of Independence was signed. The Declaration of Independence was signed in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall.

Frequently asked questions

The Articles of Confederation, officially the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, served as the United States' first constitution.

The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777.

The Articles of Confederation came into force on March 1, 1781, after being ratified by all 13 colonial states.

The Articles of Confederation established a "league of friendship" for the 13 sovereign and independent states, with each state retaining powers not expressly delegated to the United States. It also outlined a Congress with representation not based on population, giving each state one vote.

The Articles of Confederation were debated by the Second Continental Congress inside present-day Independence Hall in Philadelphia between July 1776 and November 1777, and were finalised by the Congress on November 15, 1777.

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