"Premiere Assemblée du Congrès" By François Godefroy, 1782.

The Constitution:  Counter Revolution or National Salvation? Issue 2:  Regulation of Interstate and International Commerce

Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress lacked the authority to regulate commerce, making it unable to protect or standardize trade between foreign nations and the various states. In 1784, Congress requested that the states grant it limited power over commerce for a period of fifteen years, but many of the states did not comply . . . On February 16, 1785, [a] committee recommended amending the articles of Confederation so that Congress would have power over commerce.

Congress is Unable to Control Commerce between America and Foreign Nations
from the Special Presentation, To Form a More Perfect Union,
in Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, 1774-1789

Review the following primary source documents.

• What were the issues related to interstate commerce and international commerce that affected the United States under the Articles of Confederation?
• Were the Articles adequate to address the growing needs of the United States?

Motion to Give Congress Power to Regulate Foreign Commerce
"The committee consisting of . . . to whom was referred the motion of Mr. Monroe, submit the following report: That the first paragraph of the ninth of the Articles of Confederation be altered, so as to read thus, viz . . . That the following letter be addressed to the legislatures of the several states, showing the principles on which the above alteration is proposed."

Elliot's Debates--Report of the States on the Regulation of Commerce . . .
"Friday, March 3, 1786.--The committee, consisting of Mr. Kean, Mr. Gorham, Mr. Pinckney, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Grayson, to whom were recommended sundry papers and documents relative to commerce, and the acts passed by the states in consequence of the recommendations of Congress of the 30th of April, 1784, report"

Report of the Office for Foreign Affairs, 7th October, 1785.
"The Secretary of the united States for the Department of Foreign Affairs, to whom was referred the Representation of certain French merchants, against the Acts of New-Hampshire and Massachusetts for regulating navigation and commerce . . ."

Mr. Charles Pinckney's Speech, in Answer to Mr. Jay, Delivered in Congress, August 16, 1786.
"It is confessed our government is so feeble and unoperative, that unless a new portion of strength is infused, it must in all probability soon dissolve. Congress have it in contemplation to apply to the States on this subject. The concurrence of the whole will be necessary to effect it. Is it to be supposed, that if it is discovered a treaty is formed upon principles calculated to promote the interests of one part of the union at the expense of the other, that the part conceiving itself injured will ever consent to invent additional powers . . . Will they not urge, and with great reason, the impropriety of vesting that body with farther powers, which has so recently abused those they already possess I have no doubt they will."