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Confederation Ratification

On this day in 1781, the Articles of Confederation are ratified. This document guided the United States until it was replaced by the Constitution in 1789.

The Revolution brought Americans from living under a sovereign king, to living in sovereign states, to becoming a sovereign people.
Providentially, all of this happened over the course of just two decades.
This transformation was the fruit of the collective effort to “secure the Blessings of Liberty.”
This government was founded on the “Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God,” acknowledging our “unalienable rights” from our “Creator.”

The Great Governor of the World

Indeed, here is the first half of the last paragraph of the Articles:

“And Whereas it hath pleased the Great Governor of the World to incline the hearts of the legislatures we respectively represent in congress, to approve of, and to authorize us to ratify the said articles of confederation and perpetual union, Know Ye, that we, the undersigned delegates, by virtue of the power and authority to us given for that purpose, do, by these presents, in the name and in behalf of our respective constituents, fully and entirely ratify and confirm each and every of the said articles of confederation and perpetual union, and all and singular the matters and things therein contained.”

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Articles of Confederation Adopted

On this day in 1777, the Second Continental Congress adopts the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union Between the States. The Articles functioned as a first constitution for the original thirteen states.

Perpetual Union

The conclusion of Articles begins with these words:

“And the Articles of this Confederation shall be inviolably observed by every State, and the Union shall be perpetual…”

Then, the successful ratification, was entrusted to the will of God:
“And Whereas it hath pleased the Great Governor of the World to incline the hearts of the legislatures we respectively represent in Congress, to approve of, and to authorize us to ratify the said Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union.”

Although customary, it is no less significant that the Articles are dated in this (old) fashion:
“Done at Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania the ninth day of July in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy-Eight, and in the Third Year of the independence of America.”

Lastly, a couple especially noteworthy “undersigned delegates” are John Hancock and Samuel Adams, both from Massachusetts Bay. Check out the shop for Our Samuel Adams shirt.

Of course, in the summer 1787, the Constitutional Convention commenced in Philadelphia, and the Articles of Confederation was formally replaced by the U.S. Constitution on March 4, 1789.

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Articles of Confederation Finally Ratified

On this day in 1781 (or perhaps February 2nd), Maryland becomes the 13th and final state to ratify the Articles of Confederation. However, Maryland’s delegates did not sign until March 1st.

The Articles were essentially the first constitution of the United States. What they created was a loose confederation of sovereign states and a weak central government.

Great Governor

Here is portion of the conclusion of the Articles:

“And Whereas it hath pleased the Great Governor of the World to incline the hearts of the legislatures we respectively represent in congress, to approve of, and to authorize us to ratify the said articles of confederation and perpetual union, Know Ye, that we, the undersigned delegates, by virtue of the power and authority to us given for that purpose, do, by these presents, in the name and in behalf of our respective constituents, fully and entirely ratify and confirm each and every of the said articles of confederation and perpetual union, and all and singular the matters and things therein contained… .”

Soon, the need for a stronger federal government became apparent which led to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The eventual result was the ratification of the United States Constitution in 1789.

Lastly, a couple noteworthy “undersigned delegates” were John Hancock and Samuel Adams, both from Massachusetts Bay.

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