University of Groningen
American History: Documents: Articles of Confederation
A copy of the Articles of Confederation broken down into its 13 sections. You will also find a list of the signers of the document.
University of Chicago
The Founders' Constitution: Deficiencies of the Articles of Confederation
Primary source documents (letters) concerning the need for a central government written by Madison, Hamilton, Jay, and others.
University of Chicago
The Founders' Constitution: Deficiencies of the Confederation
University of Chicago Press provides a letter from John Jay to Thomas Jefferson in which Jay explains the need to reform the government existing under the Articles of Confederation.
University of Chicago
The Founders' Constitution: Deficiencies of the Confederation
The University of Chicago provides a letter from Richard Henry Lee to George Mason in which Lee describes the financial problems the Confederation has run into and suggests minor reforms be made.
University of Chicago
The Founders' Constitution: Deficiencies of the Confederation
The original text of a letter from Alexander Hamilton to Governor George Clinton of New York in 1778 complaining of inadequate material for the U.S. armed forces and perception of weakness by foreign powers.
University of Chicago
The Founders' Constitution: Deficiencies of the Confederation
The original text of a 1787 article in which James Madison discusses the failures of the Articles of Confederation. An interesting look at the problems with the states and with foreign countries.
US National Archives
Nara: Charters of Freedom: The First Constitution: The Articles of Confederation
Primary source document of the Articles of Confederation with explanatory text and photograph of the Assembly Room at the Pennsylvania State House
Henry J. Sage
Sage American History: America Under the Articles of Confederation: 1783 1789
Article provides an overview of America under the Articles of Confederation between 1783 and 1789. The author discusses economic, political and social aspects within the context of a newly developing idea of a Republic.
Yale University
Avalon Project: The Articles of Confederation
A copy of the original Articles of Confederation presented by Yale Law School. Includes Thomas Jefferson's written discussion on the Articles of Confederation plus early drafts.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: America in Class: After Shays' Rebellion
Lesson on the aftermath of Shays' Rebellion as a reflection of the republican nature of American government and the right to vote. Includes primary resources with background information and strategies for analysis.
Library of Congress
Loc: Creating a Constitution
A brief article on the efforts of Charles Pinckney along with others to amend The Articles of Confederation. Includes links to original text of unsuccessful amendments to The Articles of Confederation
CPALMS
Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: From Confederation to Constitution
This tutorial examines the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and why they were replaced with the Constitution. A PDF file of the tutorial is available.
Other
Indian Historical Bureau: Land Ordinance of 1785
Read the text of the Land Ordinance of 1785, which was written to manage the land controlled by the Confederation government west of the Appalachian Mountains, land that became part of the United States after the Revolutionary War.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Formation of a National Government
This site from the American Revolution Project discusses the state of the union at the end of the Revolutionary War and how the events of the time led to the failure of the Continental Congress and the Articles of Confederation.
Library of Congress
Loc: Religion and Founding of American Republic: Religion and the Congress of the Confederation
This site from the Library of Congress offers descriptions of multiple events, people and beliefs that helped shape the government and culture of the U.S. Links to views of historical documents and pictures depicting the religious...
Digital History
Digital History: The Age of Constitution Writing [Pdf]
See how colonial and state constitutions differed and how the idea of a social contract between a government and its citizens is reflected in the state constitutions. The second half of this site gives an abbreviated text of the Articles...
Digital History
Digital History: The Road to Philadelphia [Pdf]
The new United States government had many problems under the Articles of Confederation. Find out what these problems were, but also discover some of the successes accomplished under that constitution. [pdf]
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Before and Beyond the Constitution: What Should a President Do?
In this Curriculum Unit, students will consider "Before and Beyond the Constitution: What Should a President do?" in 3 Lessons. The unit also includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
University of Chicago
The Founders' Constitution: Alexander Hamilton to James Duane
The original text from the University of Chicago Press of a 1780 letter from Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, who later became a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, on the weaknesses of the existing U.S. government under the...
US Government Publishing Office
Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: The Articles of Confederation, 1781
Gives a nice history of the Articles and also a summary of what they were and the problems that developed with their adoption. Includes links to the actual document.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Evaluating the Congress
Although there were some glaring weaknesses for the central government under the Articles of Confederation, there were some stunning accomplishments. Read about the successes and think about how important they were for the future of the...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Articles of Confederation
During the Revolutionary War, it was necessary to put together some sort of central government, primarily to raise and pay an army. Read about the rules finally passed by Congress in 1777, called the Articles of Confederation. See what...
Ohio History Central
Ohio History Central: Land Ordinance of 1785
Read how the Confederate Congress dealt with issues about claims of land by states, Native Americans, and squatters west of the Appalachian Mountains. See how the Land Ordinance of 1785 divided up the land, supported public education,...
US Department of State
Office of the Historian: Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were our first attempt at establishing a central government. It established the first Office of Foreign Affairs, but many weaknesses concerning foreign policy soon became apparent. Study how this first...