mony and union. They were now to enter upon another long, though peaceful, struggle for a central government.

FACTS AND DATES

1775. Meeting of Second Continental Congress, September 5.- Washington appointed Commander-in-chief, June 15.

Battle of Bunker Hill,

Montgomery and Arnold's Attack on Canada, November

and December.

- The British repulsed at Fort

1776. The British evacuate Boston, March 17. Moultrie, June 28. - Declaration of Independence, July 4. — Battle of Long Island, August 27. — Americans evacuate New York, September 16. Battle of White Plains, October 28. — Washington retreats through New Jersey. - Washington's Victory at Trenton, December 26.

1777. Washington's Victory at Princeton, January 3.- Howe transfers his Army to Chesapeake Bay. - Battle of Brandywine, September 11. - Battle of Germantown, October 4. Battle of Saratoga or Stillwater, October 7. — Burgoyne's Surrender, October 17.- Washington's Army at Valley Forge.

1778.

The British capture Savannah, December 29. The French Alliance,
February 7. George Rogers Clark's Expedition to the North-

west.

1779. The Americans are repulsed at Savannah. - The British conquer Georgia. - Wayne captures Stony Point.

1780. The British capture Charleston, May 12. — British Victory at Camden, August 16. Arnold's Treason, September. — American Victory at King's Mountain, October 7. General Greene takes Command in

the South.

1178. Battle of Cowpens, January 17. Greene's Retreat across North Carolina. Battle of Guilford Court House, March 15. Battle of Hobkirk's Hill, April 25.- Battle of Eutaw Springs, September 8. Cornwallis's Surrender at Yorktown, October 19.

1782. Peace Negotiations.

1783. Washington takes leave of the Army. — The Newburgh Address.

Final Peace Treaty.

mony and union. They were now to enter upon another long, though peaceful, struggle for a central government.

FACTS AND DATES

1775. Meeting of Second Continental Congress, September 5.- Washington appointed Commander-in-chief, June 15.- Battle of Bunker Hill,

June 17.- Montgomery and Arnold's Attack on Canada, November and December.

1776. The British evacuate Boston, March 17.

Moultrie, June 28.

The British repulsed at Fort Declaration of Independence, July 4. — Bat

tle of Long Island, August 27. — Americans evacuate New York, September 16. Battle of White Plains, October 28. - Washington retreats through New Jersey. - Washington's Victory at Trenton, December 26.

1777. Washington's Victory at Princeton, January 3.-Howe transfers his Army to Chesapeake Bay. - Battle of Brandywine, September 11. - Battle of Germantown, October 4. Battle of Saratoga or StillBurgoyne's Surrender, October 17. - Washington's Army at Valley Forge.

water, October 7.

1778. The British capture Savannah, December 29.

The French Alliance,

February 7. George Rogers Clark's Expedition to the North

west.

1779. The Americans are repulsed at Savannah. - The British conquer Geor-. gia. Wayne captures Stony Point.

August 16.

1780. The British capture Charleston, May 12. — - British Victory at Camden, Arnold's Treason, September. — American Victory at King's Mountain, October 7.- General Greene takes Command in the South.

1178. Battle of Cowpens, January 17. - Greene's Retreat across North Caro

- Battle of Guilford Court House, March 15. — Battle of Hobkirk's Hill, April 25.- Battle of Eutaw Springs, September 8. Cornwallis's Surrender at Yorktown, October 19.

1782. Peace Negotiations.

1783. Washington takes leave of the Army. - The Newburgh Address. — Final Peace Treaty.

CHAPTER XII

THE OLD CONFEDERATION AND ITS FAILURE

192. The "Old Confederation" existed from 1781 to 1787. — When we speak of the "Old Confederation"in American history we mean the form of government for the United States which was in operation just before the adoption of the Constitution, from 1781 to 1787. This was a very weak government and it soon became necessary to set it aside. In this chapter we are to learn the reasons for its failure.

The States coöperated

in the Conti

gress to

oppose Great

Britain.

First, let us see when and how the "Old Confederation was formed. When the Continental Congress met at Philadelphia in September, 1774, to consider ways of opposing the offensive acts of the British Parliament, there was yet no political union among the colonies. The colonies were not nental Con- independent of Great Britain, but they were independent of each other. The meeting called the "Continental Congress" was the means by which they were to act together until they could form a league of friendship or adopt some rules and regulations by which they could live in union with one another. They had stood by one another in the ten years of controversy with the mother country over taxation and other matters in dispute, and in 1775, when it was seen that Great Britain proposed to make war upon them to coerce them into submission, and that they would have to fight to defend their rights, they proposed to stand by one another more closely than before. Their delegates in Congress resolved on union as soon as they resolved on independence, because in their struggle for independence they wished to present a united front to their enemy and to the world, and they knew, as

Franklin said while they were signing the Declaration of Independence, that "they must all hang together or they would all hang separately."

adopted by

Congress in

On June 12, 1776, the day that a committee of the Continental Congress was appointed to draft a declaration of independence, another committee was appointed to draw Articles of up "Articles of Union" among the colonies. This Union were committee, composed of one member from each colony, reported a plan of union called the "Articles of 1777 and ratified by Confederation" (July 12, 1776). This plan of union the states was debated in Congress from time to time until in 1781. its adoption on November 15, 1777. After it was adopted by Congress it was referred to the states for their acceptance, with the understanding that this union, or league of friendship, was not to go into force until every single state had given its consent; that is, had ratified the "Articles of Confederation." This was not done until March 1, 1781.

193. Reasons for Delay in forming the Union. Thus, we see, the war for independence was nearly over before the states all agreed on a plan, or constitution, for their union. The reason for this delay was that there were several subjects of controversy upon which they could not readily agree.

1. Contro

of voting in Congress.

In the first place, it was not easy to agree as to the method of voting in Congress. Should the states vote equally, each state having one vote, or should their votes be in proportion to their population or wealth? This question versy over brought into view the fears and jealousies of the small the method states toward the large ones. The small states were the afraid their rights and the liberty of their citizens would be endangered unless they had equal voting power in the union. They would consent to no union without an equality of states. This does not mean that they wanted the country carved up into new states equal in population and area, but that they wanted the small states to have equal political power with the large ones. It was to be a union of states, not of individuals. The small states gained this point.