Notes on the Articles of Confederation

The Continental Congress was drafting a plan for a national government while citizens formed state governments.
Delegates believed unification under a national government was necessary to win independence from Britain.
Difficulty arose in writing a constitution that would gain approval from all states.
States were reluctant to cede power to a central authority.
Most Americans identified as citizens of their individual states rather than a single nation.
There was a widespread fear of replacing British tyranny with another strong government.
The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Second Continental Congress in 1777, serving as the first constitution of American government.

The Articles of Confederation created a loose alliance among 13 independent states.
They codified the existing governmental structure that had been established during the colonial period, primarily a Congress with delegates representing their respective states that retained most power.
The Articles represented an effective compromise reflective of the political climate during the ongoing Revolution, which was not yet won.

Congress had very limited power compared to the states.
To enact laws, nine out of thirteen states had to approve them, and execution of laws was left to state authorities.
No position of president was established to enforce laws passed by Congress, leading to ineffective governance.
Congress lacked the authority to regulate trade between states and foreign nations.
Congress could not impose taxes; it could only request funds from states or borrow money without guaranteed contributions from any state.
No judicial system was established to adjudicate conflicts between states.

A significant dispute arose regarding western land claims which complicated governance under the Articles of Confederation.
Maryland refused to ratify the Articles until other states, particularly Virginia, ceded their claims to land west of the Appalachian Mountains due to fears that larger states would gain excessive power over smaller states.
Eventually, most states relinquished their claims, but Virginia initially resisted.
Key figures like Thomas Jefferson advocated for a central government and lobbied Virginia to cede its claims.
With Virginia's eventual agreement, Maryland ratified the Articles in 1781, allowing the new government to commence.

The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to governance issues post-American Revolution.
Enlightenment and Roman governmental principles influenced the shaping of the U.S. Constitution.
After extensive debate and subsequent ratification, the Constitution established the foundational governing document for the United States.
The Bill of Rights, comprising the first ten amendments to the Constitution, ensures the protection of essential human rights.
The Constitution delineated the three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial, instituting a system of checks and balances to restrict power within each branch.
American citizens must meet specific criteria, and with citizenship comes the accompanying rights and responsibilities.