What document was written by John Dickinson to protect the rights of individual states?

The Articles of Confederation was written by John Dickinson to serve as the first constitution for the newly independent states. Drafted in 1777 and ratified in 1781, the Articles emphasized the sovereignty and independence of each state while establishing a loose confederation to conduct joint affairs, primarily in defense and foreign relations.

The intent behind the Articles was to protect the rights of individual states by ensuring that the central government had limited authority, particularly in terms of taxation and regulation. This was a reflection of the colonists' experiences under British rule, where they had faced the imposition of laws and taxes without representation.

Thus, the Articles of Confederation embodied the values of states' rights and local autonomy, which were crucial to many leaders of the time, including Dickinson. This focus on state sovereignty would later lead to debates about the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles, ultimately resulting in the drafting of a more robust federal Constitution in 1787.