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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Articles of Confederation

Article \Ar"ti*cle\, n. [F., fr. L. articulus, dim. of artus joint, akin to Gr. ?, fr. a root ar to join, fit. See Art, n.]

  1. A distinct portion of an instrument, discourse, literary work, or any other writing, consisting of two or more particulars, or treating of various topics; as, an article in the Constitution. Hence: A clause in a contract, system of regulations, treaty, or the like; a term, condition, or stipulation in a contract; a concise statement; as, articles of agreement.

  2. A literary composition, forming an independent portion of a magazine, newspaper, or cyclopedia.

  3. Subject; matter; concern; distinct. [Obs.]

    A very great revolution that happened in this article of good breeding.
    --Addison.

    This last article will hardly be believed.
    --De Foe.

  4. A distinct part. ``Upon each article of human duty.''
    --Paley. ``Each article of time.''
    --Habington.

    The articles which compose the blood.
    --E. Darwin.

  5. A particular one of various things; as, an article of merchandise; salt is a necessary article.

    They would fight not for articles of faith, but for articles of food.
    --Landor.

  6. Precise point of time; moment. [Obs. or Archaic]

    This fatal news coming to Hick's Hall upon the article of my Lord Russell's trial, was said to have had no little influence on the jury and all the bench to his prejudice.
    --Evelyn.

  7. (Gram.) One of the three words, a, an, the, used before nouns to limit or define their application. A (or an) is called the indefinite article, the the definite article.

  8. (Zo["o]l.) One of the segments of an articulated appendage.

    Articles of Confederation, the compact which was first made by the original thirteen States of the United States. They were adopted March 1, 1781, and remained the supreme law until March, 178

  9. Articles of impeachment, an instrument which, in cases of impeachment, performs the same office which an indictment does in a common criminal case.

    Articles of war, rules and regulations, fixed by law, for the better government of the army.

    In the article of death [L. in articulo mortis], at the moment of death; in the dying struggle.

    Lords of the articles (Scot. Hist.), a standing committee of the Scottish Parliament to whom was intrusted the drafting and preparation of the acts, or bills for laws.

    The Thirty-nine Articles, statements (thirty-nine in number) of the tenets held by the Church of England.

Articles of confederation

Confederation \Con*fed`er*a"tion\, n. [L. confoederatio: cf. F. conf['e]d['e]ration.]

  1. The act of confederating; a league; a compact for mutual support; alliance, particularly of princes, nations, or states.

    The three princes enter into some strict league and confederation among themselves.
    --Bacon.

    This was no less than a political confederation of the colonies of New England.
    --Palfrey.

  2. The parties that are confederated, considered as a unit; a confederacy.

    Articles of confederation. See under Article.

Wikipedia
Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation, formally the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, was an agreement among all thirteen original states in the United States of America that served as its first constitution. Its drafting by a committee appointed by the Second Continental Congress began on July 12, 1776, and an approved version was sent to the states for ratification in late 1777. The formal ratification by all thirteen states was completed in early 1781. Government under the Articles was superseded by a new constitution and federal form of government in 1789.

Even unratified, the Articles provided a system for the Continental Congress to direct the American Revolutionary War, conduct diplomacy with Europe and deal with territorial issues and Native American relations. Nevertheless, the weakness of the government created by the Articles became a matter of concern for key nationalists. On March 4, 1789, the general government under the Articles was replaced with the federal government under the United States Constitution. The new Constitution provided for a much stronger federal government with a chief executive (the President), courts, and taxing powers.

Usage examples of "articles of confederation".

The American colonies were initially as jealous of their autonomy as the Cherokee chiefdoms, and their first attempt at amalgamation under the Articles of Confederation (1781) proved unworkable because it reserved too much autonomy to the ex-colonies.

Franklins Albany Plan of 1754 had been the precursor of his own more ambitious Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, which he had laid before the Congress the previous July.

That in turn helped inspire the first draft of a new Articles of Confederation now presented to Congress by the committee assigned to consider the issue.

Between times, he was in the thick of debate in Congress over the Articles of Confederation.

Essays 15 through 22 deftly analyzed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Provided the consent of nine states to such admission may be obtained according to the eleventh of the Articles of Confederation.