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March 1 marks the 245th anniversary of Maryland’s ratification of the Articles of Confederation. It was the last state of the original 13 to do so.

Originally conceived as a declaration of a ‘firm league of friendship’ between the 13 states, the Articles of Confederation were the first document to outline a frame of government for the United States.  The document endeavored to balance the sovereignty of the individual states with a national system of government.  Work on the Articles began in June 1776 by a committee appointed by the Second Continental Congress, consisting of a representative from each state and chaired by John Dickinson of Delaware, also the primary writer of the document.  The Articles established a Congress in which each state had equal representation. Congress had the power to declare war, make alliances, sign treaties, appoint military officers, and manage relations with Native American tribes; however, it did not have the power to tax citizens, draft soldiers, or regulate trade.  There was to be no court that held authority over the states, and no ‘commander in chief.’

It was almost a year and a half before the final draft was sent to Congress to be approved and adopted in November 1777; it took another three years to meet the approval of all 13 states.  Unanimous approval was required. Meanwhile, the Revolutionary War raged on.  Why was Maryland the last to sign?

This all happened before we really knew where the western boundaries of the continent were located.  Westward-facing states, which included most of the original 13, had indefinite boundaries encompassing all lands west of them; Maryland, New Jersey, and Delaware did not.  These states feared an imbalance of power in favor of the other states and refused to sign.  New Jersey and Delaware were won over in late 1778 and early 1779. The other states were increasingly frustrated by Maryland’s stubborn refusal.  It was only when Maryland sought assistance from the French Navy to help with the relentless raids on its citizens in the Chesapeake Bay region that the tide began to turn.  French minister Anne-Cesar De La Luzerne replied that the state should ratify the Articles of Confederation.  Finally, Virginia agreed to give up control of its western lands north of the Ohio River, and the Maryland legislature ratified the articles on March 1, 1781.  The Articles collected 48 signatures overall; Maryland’s signers were Daniel Carroll and John Hanson.

This important early document got us through the rest of the Revolution, but its weaknesses were noticed early on.  The inability of Congress to raise funds by directly taxing citizens and the difficulty in raising an army were the earliest cracks to appear.  Next, since any amendments had to be ratified by all 13 states and other legislation required the approval of 9 of the 13, a single state could frustrate the efforts of the other 12, and frequent absenteeism of delegations made it difficult to approve important legislation. Congress had no authority to compel states to comply with legislation or to mediate in disputes between states.  For these and other reasons, the Constitution as it exists today was designed and established in 1788.

As we watch our elected leaders wrangle over countless disputes in the chambers of government today, it is good to look back and see that these struggles have always existed.  We can also be proud that Maryland continues to dig in its heels to stand up for its ideals.