Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, commonly known as the Articles of Confederation, formed the first governing document of the United States of America. They combined the colonies of the American Revolutionary War into a loose confederation. The second Continental Congress adopted the Articles on November 15, 1777, after 16 months of debate. The Articles then languished for another three years before ratification was completed on March 1, 1781. The Articles were replaced by the United States Constitution on June 21, 1788, when the 9th state, New Hampshire, ratified the Constitution.

Presidents under the Articles

The following list are those who led the Congress under the Articles of Confederation as the Presidents of the United States in Congress Assembled. The "president" under the Articles was the presiding officer of Congress, not the chief executive, as is the President of the United States under the Constitution. Also, the Articles defined the powers of a confederation of states as opposed to the current Constitution, which defines the powers of a federation of states.

Related Topics:
Congress - Presidents of the United States in Congress Assembled - Executive - President of the United States - Confederation - Constitution - Federation

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Samuel Huntington
• Thomas McKean
• John Hanson
• Elias Boudinot
• Thomas Mifflin
• Richard Henry Lee
• John Hancock
• Nathaniel Gorham
• Arthur St. Clair
• Cyrus Griffin

For a full list of Presidents of the Congress Assembled and Presidents under the two Continental Congresses before the Articles, see President of the Continental Congress.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~