The Articles of Confederation was an
agreement among the 13 founding states
that established the United States of
America as a confederation of sovereign
states and served as its first constitution
Articles 1-2
By signing the document, the delegates of
each state agree to the form of government
described in the Articles of Confederation and
therefore commit their state to the permanent
union of states that will be called the United
States.
Articles 3-4
Each state commits to help any other state to
defend itself against any attack on the basis of
their religion, their right to self-government, their
freedom to trade, or for any other reason.
Articles 5-6
Each state can decide how it wants to select
its delegates, but it must do so once a year,
prior to the annual meeting of Congress on
the first Monday of November.
Aricle 6
States are denied certain powers under the
Articles of Confederation. States may not send
ambassadors to foreign countries, receive
foreign ambassadors, or make any kind of
arrangement, meeting or treaty with any king,
prince or state. No person or state may accept
any gift, including titles of nobility, from a foreign
state. Neither Congress nor any state can give
people noble titles.
Article 7-8
When raising an army to defend the United States, each state
legislature has the authority to name all colonels and lesser
officers in any way they choose to lead the troops recruited from
that state.
Article 9-10
Only Congress has the
right to make peace and
make war (except in those
cases described in Article
6), to send and receive
ambassadors, and to make
treaties and alliances with
foreign nations.
Article 11
If Canada chooses to declare its independence
and agrees to the terms of the Articles of
Confederation, it can join the union and become
a fully sovereign state like the other thirteen
states
Articles 12-13
Each state must accept and agree to follow the decisions of the
United States in Congress assembled. The states must follow all of the
rules as stated in the Articles of Confederation. The union of states is
meant to last forever. No alterations can be made to the Articles
without the agreement of Congress and the confirmation by each of
the state legislatures.