Confederation Forever- The Annapolis Convention

Confederation Forever Part #1: The Beginning

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Confederation, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Articles of Confederation for the United States of America.- Preamble for the Amended Articles of Confederation

The PoD for TTL is a simple one. In 1786, in Annapolis, Maryland, the representatives from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia meet to discuss the future of the young United States. The states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and North Carolina appointed delegates but didn’t arrive. The other four states didn’t take any measures at all.

But WI the Annapolis Convention had been bigger, with an amended Articles of Confederation?

In OTL, the five states sent a report to the Continental Congress and to the states. In the report, the states asked that more states meet in Philadelphia next May, which is what happened. In TTL, though, the delegates from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and North Carolina arrive in time for the convention, while Connecticut and Maryland sending representatives, leaving only the two southern most states.

September 11th, 1786- Delegates from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, Connecticut, and Maryland arrive in Annapolis to discuss the amending the Articles of Confederation. South Carolina and Georgia don’t send any delegates.

September-October, 1786- The delegates (who now call the meeting the Annapolis Convention) discuss the possible amendments to the Articles of the Confederation. They elect Benjamin Franklin (PA) as the President of the Convention.

They get very little done, and agree to meet again in May, 1787. The delegates, though, send requests to South Carolina and Georgia to join the Annapolis Convention.

November 9th, 1786th- South Carolina votes to join the other eleven states in the Annapolis Convention. Georgia remains steadfast in her decision.

December, 1786-February, 1787- Georgia votes several times whether or not to join the Annapolis Convention. Two parties form, the Federalists who support the Annapolis Convention and the Patriots who don’t support it.

February, 1787- The 12 states that are part of the Annapolis Convention begin drafting their ideas for the convention.

March 23rd, 1787- The Patriot Party has a slim majority in the Georgia State Legislature, and a Patriot governor. There are talks of succession from the United States.

May 10th, 1787- The Second Annapolis Convention begins. Again, the Convention approaches Georgia about the state joining the convention.

May-September, 1787- The Second Annapolis Convention meets, and begins the task of amending the Articles of the Confederation. There are, of course, obstacles that the delegates must jump over, all of which are solved by compromise. By September, a draft of the amended Articles of Confederation are presented (see below).

In Georgia, there is increasing resistance of the Annapolis Convention.


Excerpt from "The Articles of Confederation: The Amendments"
By Dr. Richard Hefner
Richmond, Virginia, United States of America


Amendment the First, Federal Taxation: The United States in Congress assembled shall have the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises upon the several States. Any State, having been delinquent in its taxes to the United States in Congress Assembled, shall forfeit their right to vote on all matters relating to taxation in that body until such taxes are paid in full.

Amendment the Second, Inter-state commerce: Section 1: The United States in Congress assembled shall have the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the several States. Section 2: No State shall lay any imposts or duties upon another state, excepting taxation which is equally applicable to all goods sold in that state.

Amendment the Third, Regulation of Currency: The United States in Congress assembled shall have the power to establish a Continental Currency, and to regulate the value thereof.

Amendment the Fourth, Office of the Chief Minister: Section 1: The leader of the political party or group that has a majority in the United States House of Representatives Assembled shall become the Chief Executive of the Nation, who will be called 'The Chief Minister of the United States', who shall have authority to appoint a committee to be denominated 'A Cabinet of the Chief Minister', to consist of Congressmen/Senators from the various States; and to appoint such other committees and civil officers as may be necessary for managing the general affairs of the United States under their direction. Section 2: He shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States. He shall, at stated times, receive for his services, a compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during his continuance in office. Section 3: The Chief Minister of the United States shall have the power to veto a bill.

Amendment the Fifth, Office of the President: Section 1: The People of the United States of America shall elect a President for life. The President shall have several duties. The President of the United State shall represent the United States in its international relations. He shall conclude treaties with foreign states on behalf of the Untied States. Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States. The President of the United States can also summon or dissolve the United States in Congress Assembled, and also dismiss a Chief Minister and his/her ministers. Section 2: To serve as President of the United States, a candidate must be a citizen of the United States and born in the United States. The President of the United States must also have served in the United States in Congress Assembled, governor as a State, or a Chief Minister. The President of the United States can also override a Chief Minister veto. Section 3: The President of the United States is either president for life, or until he abdicates (resigns). After the Office of the President of the United States becomes vacant, the United States in Congress Assembled will pick a date for new elections.

Amendment the Sixth, Bill of Rights: The United States in Congress assembled shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, and shall make no law restricting the freedom of speech, or of the press, or of the people to peaceably assemble or of the people to seek redress of grievances.

Amendment the Seventh, Full Faith and Credit Clause: The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State.

Amendment the Eighth, Organization of the Congress: Section 1: The legislative power shall be vested in a Congress, to consist of two separate and distinct bodies, a House of Representatives, and a Senate; each of which shall, in all cases, have a negative on the other. The Legislature shall meet on the first Monday in December in every year. Section 2: The Members of the House of Representatives shall be chosen every second year, by the people of the several States comprehended within this Union. The qualifications of the electors shall be the same, from time to time, as those of the electors in the several States, of the most numerous branches of their own legislatures. The House of Representatives shall consist of one delegate for every forty thousand in population. All bills for raising or appropriating money, and for fixing the salaries of the officers of government, shall originate in the House of Representatives. Each member shall have one vote. The Chief Minister of the United States shall be the leader of the majority party. Section 2: The Senate of the United States shall be chosen by the Legislatures of the several States. Each State Legislature shall chose two members and the people of the State shall elect one. Vacancies may be supplied by the Executive until the next meeting of the Legislature. Each member shall have one vote. The Senators shall be chosen for six years; but immediately after the first election they shall be divided, into three classes, as nearly as may be, numbered one, two and three. The seats of the members of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the second year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth year, of the third class at the expiration of the sixth year, so that a third part of the members may be chosen every second year.

Amendment the Ninth, Organization of the Courts: Section 1: The judicial branch of the United States shall consist of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Supreme Court of the United States shall consist of nine judges, eight regular judges called Associate Justices of the Supreme Court and one Chief Justice of the Supreme Court that runs the Supreme Court and can only vote in cases if there is a tie. The Supreme Court of the United States can rule any law or bill unconstitutional, and review any court ruling that is appealed. Section 2: The President of the United States will appoint the eight Associate Justices, with the approval from the United States Senate. Each Associate Justice will be on the supreme court for life, or until they abdicate. Associate Justices can also be removed by the United States Senate. The Chief Justice is selected by the United States Senate, and a new Associate Justice is appointed. Section 3: The United States in Congress Assembled have the authority to establish lower courts.
 
Part #2

Confederation Forever Part #2: First Draft

Excerpt from “The Annapolis Convention: Birth of a Nationâ€
By Doctor James Earl Jones
University of Annapolis (c) 1993
Annapolis, Maryland, United States of America


“The Annapolis Convention saved the fledgling nation that was barely a decade old. Even though only twelve of the thirteen states were apart of the Convention, it was still successful. What it produced were the Amended Articles of Confederation (later renamed the Continental Constitution).

The reasons for the Annapolis Convention were simple. The nine states that first meet saw the government of the United States under the First Articles of Confederation a week one, and one that could cause problems in the long run. Then there was the Northwest Territory. Virginia, New York, and Connecticut all claimed parts of it, which was bound to cause problems. A strong federal government could take care of this problem, but a weak one, no.

The First Annapolis Convention was held in 1786 in Annapolis, and was attended by nine states (South Carolina, Georgia, Maryland, and Connecticut didn’t send delegates). They meet for less than two months, and decided to meet again in May in Annapolis, again.

The delegates drafted the Request for a National Convention in Annapolis, a letter and report to the remaining four states, persuading them to join. A new government had come to power in Maryland that was sympathetic to the Annapolis Convention. Of the other three states, because of the Request for a National Convention in Annapolis voted to join the Second Annapolis Convention (Georgia voted several times, but declined to send delegates).

The Second Annapolis Convention began on May 10th, 1787. 55 delegates from a dozen states meet, and the first act of business was electing the president of the convention. They elected Benjamin Franklin over war-hero George Washington…â€


Excerpt from “Civics- The Government of the United Statesâ€
By Dr. William Benjamin Harrison, Dr. Janet Reno, and Dr. Jerry Springer
Houghton-Penguin Publishing (c) 1994
New York City, Long Island, United States of America


“The Amended Articles of Confederation replaced the weak, uncentralized federal government of the first Articles of Confederation with a stronger parliamentary-style of government. The Amended Articles of Confederation have been criticized many a times because it too much resembles the British government, but those fears are now gone.

Under the Amended Articles of Confederation, the head of state was a popularly elected president that held that position for life, or until he/she resigned (the proper phrase in the Amended Articles of Confederation was ‘abdicated’. The head of government, who held most of the power, was the leader of the majority in the House of Representatives.

Congress is broken into two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The first house is the Senate. In the Senate, each state gets three senators, two selected by the state’s legislature and the other one elected by the people of the state. In the House of Representatives, each state gets a certain number of representatives per number of people in the state.

In September, 1787, the Amended Articles of Confederation were given to each of the thirteen states for ratification…â€


Excerpt from "Establishing a Republic: After the Dust Settled"
By Edmund von den Hoogenband
University of Eire-Washington (c) 1989
Washington, Eire, United States of America


“The first state of ratify the Amended Articles of Confederation was Rhode Island. The Rhode Island state legislature voted to ratify the Amended Articles of Confederation on September 30th, 1787, barely three weeks after the Amended Articles of Confederation were sent to the state legislatures for ratification.

Following Rhode Island came Maryland November 1st, 1787. Maryland’s legislature was the first state to get it, but there was some debate in the state legislature over the Amended Articles of Confederation. Maryland proposed another amendment. The Tenth Amendment covered the admission of new states into the Confederation.

Under the Tenth Amendment, to be admitted as a state, the United States House of Representatives must vote two-thirds in favor of admitting that new state, were the President of the United States will either veto or sign the bill. The territorial legislature must also ratify the Amended Articles of Confederation.

The Tenth Amendment was passed nine states by the time Georgia ratified the Amended Articles of Confederation, putting it into action.

North Carolina ratified the Amended Articles of Confederation on December 5th, 1787, followed by Virginia on January 21st, South Carolina on February 19th, Massachusetts on March 1st, New Hampshire on March 21st, and Pennsylvania on May 6th. That was eight out of thirteen states. Of those eight, five ratified the Tenth Amendment…"
 
Part #3

Confederation Forever Part #3: Final Ratification

Excerpt from “Civics- The Government of the United Statesâ€
By Dr. William Benjamin Harrison, Dr. Janet Reno, and Dr. Jerry Springer
Houghton-Penguin Publishing (c) 1994
New York City, Long Island, United States of America


“Of the remaining four states that needed to ratify the Amended Articles of Confederation, there were massive debates in the state capital buildings over whether or not to ratify it.

The debates raged for days and weeks on end, and sometimes were settled with duels or brawls.

The remaining four states finally ratified the Amended Articles of Confederation slightly more than a year after the first draft was sent to the various states for ratification. The Tenth Amendment was ratified by Maryland, Rhode Island, Virginia, South Carolina, Massachusetts, New York, Delaware, New Jersey, and Georgia.

By years’ end, Congressional elections were already underway. Two main factions had formed in the United States. The first, known as the Federalist, supported a stronger federal government, and were popular in the northern states and were lead by Benjamin Franklin; the second was at first known as the Anti-Federalists, but then as the Confederates, who supported a weaker federal government and were lead by Thomas Jefferson…â€

States Admitted to the Union with Date of Admission

1. Rhode Island--September 30th, 1787
2. Maryland--November 1st, 1787
3. North Carolina--December 5th, 1787
4. Virginia--January 21st, 1788
5. South Carolina--February 19th, 1788
6. Massachusetts--March 1st, 1788
7. New Hampshire--March 21st, 1788
8. Pennsylvania--May 6th, 1788
9. New York--July 1st, 1788
10. Delaware--July 12th, 1788
11. New Jersey--August 30th, 1788
12. Connecticut--September 17th, 1788
13. Georgia--October 1st, 1788

Excerpt from “Elections of the United Stats of Americaâ€
By George D. Walker, Jr.
Paramount & Jackson Publishers
Paramount, New York, United Stats of America


“1788
-Connecticut:
Senate
3 Federalists
House of Representatives
5 Federalists

Delaware
Senate
2 Federalists
1 Anti-federalist
House of Representatives
1 Federalist

Georgia
Senate
3 Anti-Federalists
House of Representatives
2 Anti-federalists

Maryland
Senate
1 Federalist
2 Anti-federalists
House of Representatives
4 Federalists
4 Anti-federalists
1 Moderate[1]

Massachusetts
Senate
3 Federalists
House of Representatives
7 Federalists
1 Anti-federalist

New Hampshire
Senate
3 Federalists
House of Representatives
2 Federalists
1 Anti-Federalist

New Jersey
Senate
2 Federalists
1 Anti-federalist
House of Representatives
2 Federalists
3 Anti-federalists

New York
Senate
3 Federalists
House of Representatives
9 Federalists

North Carolina
Senate
3 Anti-federalists
House of Representatives
1 Federalist
8 Anti-federalists

Pennsylvania
Senate
3 Anti-federalists
House of Representatives
8 Federalists
4 Anti-federalists

Rhode Island
Senate
2 Federalists
1 Moderate
House of Representatives
2 Federalists

South Carolina
Senate
3 Anti-federalists
House of Representatives
1 Federalist
5 Anti-federalists

Virginia
Senate
3 Anti-federalists
House of Representatives
1 Federalist
18 Anti-federalists

Total
Senate
22 Federalists
16 Anti-federalists
1 Moderate
House of Representatives
43 Federalists--Benjamin Franklin
40 Anti-federalists--Thomas Jefferson
1 Moderate--None

The first chief minister of the United States was Benjamin Franklin. George Washington was elected president in a landslide, defeating John Adams and John Jay…â€

[1]-Moderates are basically like independences of OTL.
 
As to Ammendment 5, no way are they going to elect a president for life. I also doubt they would give a president the right to dissolve Congress. In OTL, while they recognized the need for a stronger central government and were fearful of mob rule (Hi, Senators and Electoral College), they also didn't want a tyrant.
 
Mikey said:
Confederation Forever Part #2: First Draft

Excerpt from “The Annapolis Convention: Birth of a Nationâ€
By Doctor James Earl Jones
University of Annapolis (c) 1993
Annapolis, Maryland, United States of America

It appears i started a style
 
Part #4

Confederation Forever Part #4: Congress is Open!

15 January 1789
United States Capital Building
New York City, New York
United States of America


Benjamin Franklin looked around the United States Capital Building in New York City. 123 senators and representatives from thirteen states were crammed into the former New York State Capital, with maybe twice that number packed into the balcony overhead, watching the First United States in Congress Assembled meet.

Franklin turned to his long-time friend, and now President of the United States, George Washington. The president was dressed in his best and finest suit, and looked as regal as King George of Britain.

“Are you ready George?†Franklin whispered to Washington.

“That’s ‘Mr. President to you, Chief Minister Franklin,†Washington replied. “And, yes, I am ready.â€

Franklin smiled. He heard the church bells across the street ring in ten o’clock in the morning. “It’s time,†Franklin whispered.

George turned around, to face the United States Congress. Immediately, all five-hundred humans packed into the building fell silent.

“Gentlemen may the First United States in Congress Assembled first meeting come to order.†Washington said, banging the gavel on the desk.


Excerpt from "Establishing a Republic: After the Dust Settled"
By Edmund von den Hoogenband
University of Eire-Washington (c) 1989
Washington, Eire, United States of America


“The First United States in Congress Assembled was held in the former State Capital Building of New York in New York City. Congress immediately voted to form the Cabinet of the United States. There would five different cabinet-level ministers.

They would be the Minister of Foreign Affairs who was tasked with diplomatic affairs with other nations; the Minister of War who was tasked with running the Continental Army and the organization of the militia; the Minister of the Treasury who was tasked with finance and monetary manners; the Minister of Justice is tasked with running the legal affairs of the nation and the chief law enforcement officer in the nation; and the Minister of the Post who is tasked with running the post offices of the nation.

Franklin wanted to reach across party lines and decided to form a coalition government of ministers.

List of the First Cabinet of the United States, 1789:
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs--Thomas Jefferson (AF-Va)
  • Minister of War--Henry Knox (F-Ma)
  • Minister of the Treasury--Alexander Hamilton (F-NY)
  • Minister of Justice--Edmund Randolph (M-Va)
  • Minister of the Post--Samuel Osgood (F-Ma)

Franklin immediately realized problems with Jefferson and Hamilton. He Picked Edmund Randolph because he could easily moderate the fierce shouting fights the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Treasury would get into. In his cabinet, he had three Federalists, 1 Anti-federalist, and 1 Moderate.

One of the first things the United States Congress did after the formation of the First Cabinet was the resolution of the Northwest Dispute. Under the Northwest Compromise, the various states that laid claims in that area would sell them to the Federal government.

Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York readily agreed, but Virginia refused to. Virginia held a strip of territory south of the Ohio River to the North Carolina border. The three northern states had sold them their claims to the United States government for around four cents an acre. The Federal Government decided to up the price to seven cents, then eight cents before Virginia agreed.

The Northwest Territory was formed on Septmber 1st, 1789…â€
 
Why is it that there are a whole lot of ?'s on your webpage and the archive when there shouldn't be any question marks?
 
I like it, but something really, really minor: would anyone actually run against George Washington? It would basically be political suicide ("some 'insert state here'-er thinks he's better than Gen. Washington?!").
 
G.Bone said:
Why is it that there are a whole lot of ?'s on your webpage and the archive when there shouldn't be any question marks?

They used to be the little "..."..." . Apparently they don't transfer well from Word. I dunno.
 
Mikey said:
The same thing happens on the Decades of Darkness website. Realy annoying.

Extremely. I've been trying to fix it, but I'm not even sure what causes it. Anyone have any ideas?
 
Part #5.1

Confederation Forever Part #5.1: Shopping for a Home

Excerpt from “History of the American Capital District’
By Alexander Roosevelt III
American Capital District Historical Society (c) 1945
Wakefield, American Capital District, United States of America


“Chapter One

In 1789, the United States Congress realized that they needed a neutral place to meet since the southern Congressmen were complaining about having to travel nearly the entire length of the country to reach New York City.

Congress immediately authorized construction of a national capital in the middle of the nation. A surveying team was sent to the Mid-Atlantic States and were ordered to find the best possible spot for a national capital. The surveyors picked a stretch off of land along the Delaware River in Delaware and Pennsylvania

The “Federal Cityâ€, as it was called by Benjamin Franklin, was not to be along the Delaware River. The southerners still weren’t happy with the location, and a deal was struck.

Thomas Jefferson and the other Nationalists (formerly the Anti-federalists) would only agree to the Alexander Hamilton’s federal bonds and banking plan only if the Nationalists got to pick the location for the Federal City.

The Nationalists sent their own surveyors to pick a spot along the Potomac River, since it was a central location for most states. The surveyors proposed a hundred square mile area of land in Maryland and Virginia as the sight for the Federal City.

President George Washington signed the American Capital Bill into law on January 5th, 1790.

But a name was needed for the actual capital city, since Federal City wouldn’t work. Many names were proposed, and Congress voted to name the Federal City either Washington, Franklin, or Wakefield (the place of birth for George Washington). Congress voted to name it Wakefield.

The American Capital Bill also established the way the ACD would be governed. The citizens of the ACD would elect a district legislature and a single representative for the House of Representatives. The people would not be eligible to vote for president, thoughâ¦â€
 
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