Identifier: politicalhistory00boyd (find matches)
Title: The political history of the United States : or, popular sovereignty and citizenship; birth and growth of the colonies; march to independence; constitutional government; presidents and administrations; congresses and political measures; party platforms and principles; rise and fall of parties. Questions of the hour-civil service reform, polygamy, prohibition, surplus revenue, tariff and free trade, arguments for and against, review of tariff acts
Year: 1888 (1880s)
Authors: Boyd, James Penny, 1836-1910
Subjects:
Publisher: Philadelphia Chicago : P. W. Ziegler & co.
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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Articles of Confederation, March, 1781, nearthe close of the Revolutionary war. There was no change in itsconstruction, except that the delegates to it were appointed bythe State legislatures, as soon as the States had organized Stategovernments, which they made haste to do, under the recom-mendations of the Congress of 1776.* The powers of the Con- * New Jersey adopted a State Constitution July 2, 1776, which went into fulloperation, and the government thus formed lasted for sixty-eight years. Delaware adopted a Constitution and form of government (Sept. 20, 1776) whichlasted for sixteen years. Maryland agreed on a Declaration of Rights, Nov, 3, 1776, and on the 8th, upona Constitution, which was not changed for seventy-five years. Pennsylvania framed a Constitution Sept. 28, 1776, which terminated its charter.But it was not generally received. Owing to division, the State officers were sup-ported in their authority by a Committee of Congress, till the amended Constitu-tion of 1790.
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INDEPENDENCE HALL. 99 100 POLITICAL HISTORY OF tinental Congress were nowhere defined or limited. They In-cluded power to declare war and make peace, to raise armiesand equip navies, to form treaties and alliances with foreignnations, to contract debts, and do all other acts of a sovereigngovernment which were essential to the safety of the UnitedStates. No Colony, or State, disputed the powers thus assumedand exercised. They originated from necessity and were onlylimited by events. Revolutionary though they were, the Con-gress in their exercise was supported by the people, and therewas no other authority to question its acts. It was evident thatwhen the dangers of war had passed, when the public liberties andindependence of all the States had been assured, and when peacehad dawned, these extraordinary powers of the Congress wouldhave to give way to something more certain and better under-stood. And right here arose a momentous question. In relax-ing the control of Congress, there was

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