Mar 1, 1781: Articles of Confederation are ratified
Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 12:21 pm
Mar 1, 1781:
Articles of Confederation are ratified
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Articles of Confederation are ratified
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More at link aboveThe critical distinction between the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution —the primacy of the states under the Articles—is best understood by comparing the following lines.
The Articles of Confederation begin:
"To all to whom these Present shall come, we the undersigned Delegates of the States"
By contrast, the Constitution begins:
"We the People of the United States do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
The predominance of the states under the Articles of Confederation is made even more explicit by the claims of 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."