The first plan of government formally tying the colonies together, it was introduced during the war for independence but not adopted by the states until 1781.
Read moreVirginia selects delegates to send to Annapolis to consider the deficiencies of the Articles of Confederation.
Read moreRufus King laments the problems of governing under the Articles.
Read moreA committee of Congress recommends amendments to the Articles in order to “render the federal government adequate to the ends for which it was instituted.”
Read moreVirginia commissions and empowers delegates to attend a convention, to take place in 1787 in Philadelphia, to address the problems with the Articles.
Read moreJohn Jay seeks to convince George Washington that a convention to amend the Articles is necessary.
Read moreJames Madison lists and describes some of what he sees as the greatest problems in American government as of early 1787.
Read moreExcerpts from James Madison’s notes taken during the Convention of 1787.
Read moreThe Constitution as signed on 17 September 1787.
Read moreThe signers of the Constitution formally recommend their work to the Congress.
Read moreA respected leader provides a powerful endorsement of the Constitution to the representatives of an essential state.
Read moreHamilton’s introduction to the Federalist effort, framing the importance of the public debate to come.
Read more“Among the numerous advantages promised by a well constructed union, none deserves to be more accurately developed, than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction.”
Read more“To what expedient then shall we finally resort, for maintaining in practice the necessary partition of power among the several departments, as laid down in the constitution?”
Read moreDetailed records of the debates and votes in each state, 1787-1790.
Read moreTeachingAmericanHistory.org is a project of the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University
401 College Avenue | Ashland, Ohio 44805 (419) 289-5411 | (877) 289-5411 (Toll Free)
info@TeachingAmericanHistory.org
© 2006-2019 Ashbrook Center | Design by CiV Digital