On this day in history: the Articles of Confederation were approved (1777)

On this day in history, the Articles of Confederation were approved in 1777 by the Second Continental Congress and sent to each colony for ratification. It was an agreement among the colonies and served as the new nations first constitution. The guiding principle was to preserve the independence and sovereignty of each state with a weak central government. The idea was that it is was a league of friendship. It was officially ratified on March 1, 1781 as the Revolutionary War was coming to a close with victory coming at Yorktown in October. When Shay’s Rebellion occurred in August 1786-June 1787, the weaknesses of the Articles were apparent, and the Constitutional Convention convened on May 25, 1787 to address its issues.

The Articles of Confederation established a firm league among the colonies now known as free and independent states. It was an international agreement to set up the central institutions to conduct vital domestic and foreign affairs. On June 12, 1776, a committee of 13 was chosen to draft a constitution for the new nation they wanted to create. The Articles of Confederation were presented to the Continental Congress on July 12, 1776. Long debates ensued on state sovereignty and the powers given to Congress. Questions on how to establish a judiciary, western land claims and voting procedures and general questions on how to conduct day to day business. Eventually a consensus was achieved by allowing each state to retain its sovereignty, the power of western land claims was given to the states, and established a unicameral legislature with limited powers. The final draft would be approved on November 15, 1777.

The Articles consist of a preamble, 13 articles, a conclusion, and a signatory section. Each individual article set rules for current and future operations of the central government. Here is a summarized version of each article:

1.  Establishes the country’s new name as the United State of America.

2. Asserts the sovereignty of each state.

3. Declares the purpose of the Confederation as a “firm league of friendship” for the common defense, security of liberties and mutual and general well-being.

4. Establishes equal treatment and freedom of movement for free residents of each state as well as extradition powers for fugitives to be returned to the state of their crimes.

5. Allocates one vote per state in the Congress of the Confederation and each state was entitled to a delegation of 2-7 members who were appointed by their state’s legislatures for service of no more than 3 of 6 years.

6. The power to declare war is allocated to the Congress as well as the power to conduct foreign political or commercial relationships. While each state is required to keep ready a well-trained, disciplined, and equipped militia.

7. State legislatures are assigned military ranks of Colonel and below.

8. Government expenditures will be paid with funds raised by the state legislatures.

9. Details the specific powers and functions of the Congress including war powers, foreign powers, appointed judges to the courts, appointed a president to serve no longer than 1 year per a 3-year Congressional term.

10. When the Congress is in recess, nine states are needed to form a committee to execute any of the congressional powers.

11. No new states shall be admitted without the consent of nine states.

12. Confederations will honor all bills of credit incurred, monies borrowed, and debts contracted by Congress before the Articles’ existence.

13. The Articles can be altered only by Congressional approach and ratification of the state legislatures.

 After the Articles were ratified by the states on March 1, 1781, it wasn’t long until its weaknesses were exposed. After the war, a debt crisis rose among the citizens in Massachusetts and the state’s increased efforts to collect taxes on both individuals and their trades. With no relief in sight, war veteran and farmer Daniel Shays led 4,000 men to protest the economic and civil rights injustices. On August 29, 1787, Shay led an armed march on the federal Springfield Armory to seize the weaponry and overthrown the government. It was unsuccessful but other skirmishes would follow until the rebellion was stopped by the Massachusetts State militia and a privately funded local militia. At the time of the rebellion, it weakness of the Articles were apparent, and it was widely debated among the Federalists and the Antifederalists about revisions to the Articles. It has been widely taught that Shays’ Rebellion was the catalyst for the Constitutional Convention and the creation of the Constitution we know today; however, many scholars still debate whether the rebellion really had an influence on the creation of the Constitution and its ratification.

In conclusion, the Articles of Confederation was our nation’s first attempt at a constitution. While it has its weaknesses and was thrown out in favor for the current Constitution, the Articles was a start for a community who know what they wanted to avoid in a government and the liberty they wanted to protect. From identifying the powers of Congress and the country’s leaders, the Articles of Confederation served as the starting point for a new nation. Its greatest achievement was to bring the 13 colonies together to form one nation. Whether Shays’ Rebellion was the catalyst to throw out the Articles, or just the final straw, it influenced the creation of the new US Constitution. Today, we remember the Articles of Confederation. 

June 14: Flag Day

Today is Flag Day. It is a day to commemorate the adoption of the American flag on June 14, 1777. The Second Continental Congress passed the resolution for the flag. The anniversary wasn’t an official observance until 1916 when Woodrow Wilson established the day as an observance. Flag day is not an official federal holiday. It is up to the discretion of the president to officially proclaim the observance. Pennsylvania became the first state to celebrate Flag Day as a state holiday in 1937. The oldest continuing Flag Day parade is held in Fairfield, Washington. What is the history of the flag? What is the symbolism? And what other flag shares it’s anniversary with the American flag.

The current design of the American flag is the 27^th design. Its current design has been in use since adding Hawaii as a stage in 1959. The Resolution in 1777 called for a flag with 13 stripes, alternating red and white and 13 stars on a field of blue. However, it did not designate how the stars would be situated on the field of blue so various flags were made. Most people are familiar with the stars in a circle design but there were multiple designs in use. The story that Betsy Ross made the first flag at the request of George Washington has been deemed false. There no record exists in Washington’s diaries or the records of the Continental Congress stating a request was made. The story was first suggested in 1870 by William Canby, Ross’ grandson. He would later admit he could not find any evidence to corroborate this story. The first official US flag was flown during battle was August 3, 1777 at Fort Schuyler (Fort Stanwix).

The flag is the nation’s most widely recognized symbol. It has become a powerful symbol of American nationalism. Reverence for the flag has reach religious like fervor for some individuals. In his book, The Religion of Old Glory (1919), William Norman Guthrie would claim the fervor was vexilloatry or flag worship. The US Flag Code, a federal law, dictates flag etiquette. Most of the rules are how the flag should be displayed and treated. It especially prohibits against the flag’s use “for any advertising purpose” and “should not be embroidered, printed, or otherwise impressed on articles such as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes,” etc. Anything that is temporary use and thrown away or something that can be soiled and washed. The flag is also prohibited to be used as apparel, bedding, or drapery. It is prohibited from being a costume or used on athletic uniforms. You’re probably thinking, “wait, what about all those items should at Fourth of July?” Yes, it seems that those items are in violation of the Flag Code. However, the code is mostly ignored because it is not widely enforced as there is no penalty for private citizens.

June 14 is also the anniversary of the Bear Flag Revolt in California. The flag features a bear, a red star and the words “California Republic.” In 1846, approximately 500 American settlers and 8,000-12,000 Mexicans lived in California. Being led by William B. Ide, 33 American settlers and mountain men arrested the Mexican general in command at Sonoma and declared the “Bear Flag Republic” on the Pacific Ocean coast as an independent nation. On June 25, Captain John C Fremont arrived at Sonoma and gave his support. He would be later elected as head of the Republic of California. The rebellion was quick to fail as forces under Commodore John D Sloat occupied San Francisco and Sonoma and claimed California for the US on July 9, 1846. The Bear Flag was adopted as the state flag when California joined the Union in 1850 as the 31^st state, after being annexed by the US following the Mexican-American War (1846-1849).

In conclusion, Flag Day is a day to celebrate the anniversary of the adoption of our nation’s flag. The flag has been through numerous redesigns, usually when a state has joined the union. While the Betsy Ross story has largely debunked, it remains a story that is still circulated. The flag is also the nation’s most widely recognized symbol and one that is the most revered by American people. There are a set of rules for flag etiquette; however, it is not widely enforced. June 14 is also the anniversary of the Bear Flag Revolt of California. Take a little extra time today and appreciate our nation’s flag.