Have a question? Need assistance? Use our online form to ask a librarian for help.
Chat with a librarian, Monday through Friday, 12-4pm Eastern Time (except Federal Holidays).
The digital collections of the Library of Congress contain a wide variety of primary source materials associated with the Articles of Confederation, including government documents, manuscripts, and broadsides. Provided below is a link to the home page for each relevant digital collection along with selected highlights.
Important milestones related to the Articles of Confederation include the following references in the Journals of the Continental Congress:
The Letters of Delegates to Congress contains drafts of the Articles of Confederation by Josiah Bartlett and John Dickinson from June 1776. Both Bartlett and Dickinson were members of the committee responsible for writing the draft of the Articles of Confederation. This publication also includes a few notes on the plan of Confederation written by Bartlett.
Elliot's Debates provides a summary of the ratification process for the Articles of Confederation, a transcript of Thomas Jefferson's notes of debate on confederation, and another copy of the Articles.
Documents from the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, 1774 to 1789
James Madison Papers, 1723 to 1859
Printed Ephemera: Three Centuries of Broadsides and Other Printed Ephemera
Thomas Jefferson Papers, 1606 to 1827
