reafter be
made in any of them; unless such alteration be agreed to in a Congress
of the United States, and be afterwards confirmed by the Legislatures of
every State.

And whereas it has pleased the Great Governor of the world to incline
the hearts of the Legislatures we respectively represent in Congress,
to approve of, and to authorize us to ratify the said articles of
confederation and perpetual union. Know ye that we the undersigned
delegates, by virtue of the power and authority to us given for
that purpose, do by these presents, in the name and in behalf of our
respective constituents, fully and entirely ratify and confirm each and
every of the said articles of confederation and perpetual union, and all
and singular the matters and things therein contained: and we do further
solemnly plight and engage the faith of our respective constituents,
that they shall abide by the determinations of the United States in
Congress assembled, on all questions, which by the said confederation
are submitted to them. And that the articles thereof shall be inviolably
observed by the States we re[s]pectively represent, and that the Union
shall be perpetual.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in Congress. Done at
Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania the ninth day of July in the
year of our Lord one thousand s even hundred and seventy-eight, and in
the third year of the independence of America.*

* From the circumstances of delegates from the same State having
signed the Articles of Confederation at different times, as appears by
the dates, it is probable they affixed their names as they happened
to be present in Congress, after they had been authorized by their
constituents.

On the part & behalf of the State of New Hampshire. JOSIAH BARTLETT,
JOHN WENTWORTH, JUNR., August 8th, 1778.

On the part and behalf of the State of Massachusetts Bay. JOHN HANCOCK,
SAMUEL ADAMS, ELDBRIDGE GERRY, FRANCIS DANA, JAMES LOVELL, SAMUEL
HOLTEN.

On the part and behalf of the State of Rhode Island and Providence
Plantations. WILLIAMS ELLERY, HENRY MARCHANT, JOHN COLLINS.

On the part and behalf of the State of Connecticut. ROGER SHERMAN,
SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, OLIVER WOLCOTT, TITUS HOSMER, ANDREW ADAMS.

On the part and behalf of the State of New York. JAS. DUANE, FRA. LEWIS,
Wm. DUER, GOUV. MORRIS.

On the part and in behalf of the State of New Jersey, Novr. 26, 1778.
JNO. WITHERSPOON, NATHL. SCUDDER.

On the