The Original Constitution

The Articles of Confederation

Agreed to by Congress November 15, 1777; ratified and in force, March 1, 1781.

Preamble

To all to whom these Presents shall come, we the undersigned Delegates of the States affixed to our Names send greeting.
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 to certain articles of Confederation and perpetual Union between the States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts-bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, in the words following, viz:
Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union between the States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts-bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

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Article I. The Stile of this Confederacy shall be "The United States of America."

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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.

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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 whatever.

The Articles Of Confederation were our nation's first attempt at organizing the new independent United States of America in to a working nation. And while I appreciate the attempt, Confederations never last. In a confederation, the individual political units, States in this case, maintain their sovereignty (in other words, each is its own nation), but they join together in a coordinated way to deal with certain issues, such as security. This independence of each political unit is seen as both the main advantage and main disadvantage of a confederation.

While I am very much in favor of the power and independence of individual states,  I also understand that there is a very small area between anarchy and oppression. A delicate balance has to be maintained between the powers of the individual and the state, as well as between the state powers and Federal powers.

In these Articles the States outline their desire to remain independent while at the same time retaining the protection of their continued alliance. Unfortunately, the Articles do not give a structure to enforce this alliance. Their is no way to maintain the balance.

We must always beware those who would desire to shift the balance to far one way or the other. Our nation is designed to allow for corrections, to allow shifts in the balance. But we must actively participate if we are to maintain the balance.

We must balance security and liberty. We must balance economy and conservation. We must balance welfare and independence.

May The Force Be With You.

God Bless America.