The Articles of Confederation : An Interpretation of the Social-Constitutional History of the American Revolution, 1774-1781

Events surrounding the writing and ratification of the first constitution are recounted and interpreted. Contents Author’s Foreword Preface to the First Printing, 1940 Preface to the Second Printing, 1948 Preface to the Third Printing, 1959 THE REVOLUTIONARY BACKGROUND I The Problem of Interpretation II The Internal Revolution III Independence and Internal Revolution, 1774–1776 THE WRITING AND RATIFICATION OF THE ARTICLES IV The Problem of Union V The Dickinson Draft of the Confederation VI The Solution of the Major Issues VII The Problem of Sovereignty VIII The Completion of the Articles IX Early Reaction and Ratification X Virginia and the Western Problem, 1778–1779 XI Congress and the Western Problem: Land Speculation and the Spanish Alliance XII The Completion of the Confederation XIII Conclusions APPENDIX Progress of the Articles through Congress The Dickinson Draft of the Confederation The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union Index 'Here is a book which deals with clashes between economic and political factors in the American Revolution as realistically as if its author were dealing with a presidential election.'—Social Studies'An admirable analysis. It presents, in succinct form, the results of a generation of study of this chapter of our history and summarizes fairly the conclusions of that study.'—Henry Steele Commager, New York Times Book Review "Here is a book which deals with clashes between economic and political factors in the American Revolution as realistically as if its author were dealing with a presidential election." Social Studies "An admirable analysis. It presents, in succinct form, the results of a generation of study of this chapter of our history and summarizes fairly the conclusions of that study."Henry Steele Commager, New York Times Book Review