1. The Confederation Congress & the ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

2. 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. ‘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) …would then be sent to the States in NOV. 1777 & ratified by the States in MAR. 1781!  …would then be sent to the States in NOV. 1777 & 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 *

3. The CONGRESS OF THE CONFEDERATION & the… ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION CONFEDERATION of SOVEREIGN STATES FIRST CONSTITUTION “ …document signed by the 13 original States that established the U.S. as a CONFEDERATION of SOVEREIGN STATES & served as its FIRST CONSTITUTION. ” (proposed to the States November 15, 1777)

4. THINKUTMOST IMPORTANCE 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

5. ABOUT THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION TYPE OF GOVERNMENT CONFEDERATION Sovereignty: ‘…each State.’ CONGRESS OF THE CONFEDERATION State Government

6. 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 & Judicial Branches Executive & Judicial Branches: None Strengths & Weaknesses? ABOUT THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION AS A CONSTITUTION 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

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

8. 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.’

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

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