Travis!

1. The Articles of Confederation The first Constitution of the United States of America

2. John Dickinson Did not sign Declaration of Independence. Believed revolution was right, but premature. “Penman of the Revolution” Drafted Articles in 1777. Represented Pennsylvania in Congress while he drafted them. Represented Delaware in Congress when the Articles were ratified. Believed a strong, central government was needed to run the USA.

4. What do the Articles of Confederation say? This country shall be called The United States of America. Each state is equal, individual, and represented in Congress. States must help each other in times of need, and an Article may only be ratified if all states agree on it. Interstate travel is allowed, as long as travelers abide to the laws of the state they travel into. Fugitives, if caught, are to be returned to the state they became fugitives in for trial. Each state is represented in Congress by anywhere from 2 to 7 delegates. States can’t have standing armies/navies, only militia. Defense can only be initiated without the consult of Congress if an attack is made on the state. Officers under the rank of Colonel are to be appointed by the state legislatures.

5. What do the Articles of Confederation say? The union army will be kept up by the Congress. The taxes to pay for this army shall be levied by each individual state. The union’s peace treaties or war decisions will be voted on by congress, and spoils of war shall be split according to Congress. If a decision/law needs to be passed while Congress is not in session, 9 state legislatures may serve as the temporary government for the task. Canada is pre-approved to join, but any other new territory needs a 9 vote majority to become part of the USA. Acknowledgements to the war debt the Country has. Every state must adhere to the Articles, and any alterations must be voted on unanimously by the states.

6. Wait a second… Enforcing laws? How does Congress collect taxes? Interstate commerce? A 9-vote state majority to sign in any law?

8. States ignored Congress.

9. Congress couldn’t pay back debts. Also couldn’t afford to pay the army, thus Spanish and English encroachment couldn’t be prevented.

11. Thankful… Personally, I’m glad. If you’re going to mess up, mess up at the beginning, because you can only go uphill from there. i.e. - “You can’t do that! Remember how miserably that went when they tried using it in The Articles of Confederation?”