The Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation were revolutionary in their desire to bring colonies together under one government. In Franklin’s version, the colonies together would form a united front:

[A] firm League of Friendship with each other, binding on themselves and their Posterity, for their common Defense against their Enemies, for the Security of their Liberties and Properties, the Safety of their Persons and Families, and their mutual and general welfare (Article II, 260).

As a singular nation, Franklin knows that the “United Colonies of North America” can wield much more military strength and political might that will be needed in fighting the British in the Revolutionary War. He even opens the possibility for the United Colonies to expand by suggesting the invitation of other British colonies so that they would be “entitled to all the Advantages of our Union, mutual Assistance and Commerce” (Article XIII, 263). This inclusion would continue to expand the colonies under one common banner.

Franklin is very mindful of the balance of power between the state and central government. Congress has the power to settle disputes between colonies, and it also sets up how conflict should be approached between the colonies and other nations as well as between the colonies and indigenous peoples.