Congress of the Confederation (March 1, 1781) formally began operating under the Articles of Confederation, as the thirteenth state, Maryland, finally granted ratification.
The Articles of Confederation, which were proposed in the Continental Congress, November 15, 1777; and signed July 9, 1778; constituted the government in America prior to the writing of the United States Constitution, 1787:
<Preamble. Whereas the delegates of the United States of America in Congress assembled did on the fifteenth day of November in the Year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven, and in the second year of the independence of America agree on certain Articles of Confederation and perpetual union between the States...> 1781CC001
<Article I. The style of this confederation shall be "The United States of America."
Article II. Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction and right, which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the united states, in Congress assembled.
Article III. The said states hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist each other, against all force offered to, or attacks made upon them, or any of them, on account of religion, sovereignty, trade, or any other pretense...> 1781CC002
<And whereas it has 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.> 1781CC003
<In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in Congress. Done at Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania the ninth day of July in the Year of Our Lord, 1778, and in the third year of the independence of America.> 1781CC004
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1781CC001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Congress of the Confederation, March 1, 1781, the Articles of Confederation were finally ratified by the states, having been proposed November 15, 1777; and signed July 9, 1778. Charles W. Eliot, LL.D., ed., American Historical Documents 1000- 1904 (New York: P.F. Collier & Son Company, The Harvard Classics, 1910), Vol. 43, pp. 168-179. John Wilson Taylor, M.A., Ph.D., et al., The Lincoln Library of Essential Information (Buffalo, New York: The Frontier Press Company, 1935), pp. 1392-1394. "Our Christian Heritage," Letter from Plymouth Rock (Marlborough, NH: The Plymouth Rock Foundation), p. 3.
1781CC002. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Confederation, Congress of the. March 1, 1781, the Articles of Confederation were finally ratified by the states, having been proposed November 15, 1777; and signed July 9, 1778. Charles W. Eliot, LL.D., ed., American Historical Documents 1000- 1904 (New York: P.F. Collier & Son Company, The Harvard Classics, 1910), Vol. 43, pp. 168-179. John Wilson Taylor, M.A., Ph.D., et al., The Lincoln Library of Essential Information (Buffalo, New York: The Frontier Press Company, 1935), pp. 1392-1394.
1781CC003. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Confederation, Congress of the. March 1, 1781, the Articles of Confederation were finally ratified by the states, having been proposed November 15, 1777; and signed July 9, 1778. Charles W. Eliot, LL.D., ed., American Historical Documents 1000- 1904 (New York: P.F. Collier & Son Company, The Harvard Classics, 1910), Vol. 43, pp. 168-179. John Wilson Taylor, M.A., Ph.D., et al., The Lincoln Library of Essential Information (Buffalo, New York: The Frontier Press Company, 1935), pp. 1392-1394. "Our Christian Heritage," Letter from Plymouth Rock (Marlborough, NH: The Plymouth Rock Foundation), p. 3. Michael R. Farris, Esq., Constitutional Law (Paeonian Springs, VA: Home School Legal Defense Association, 1991), pp. 20-29.
1781CC004. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Confederation, Congress of the. March 1, 1781, the Articles of Confederation were finally ratified by the states, having been proposed November 15, 1777; and signed July 9, 1778. Charles W. Eliot, LL.D., ed., American Historical Documents 1000- 1904 (New York: P.F. Collier & Son Company, The Harvard Classics, 1910), Vol. 43, pp. 168-179. John Wilson Taylor, M.A., Ph.D., et al., The Lincoln Library of Essential Information (Buffalo, New York: The Frontier Press Company, 1935), pp. 1392-1394.