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230th Anniversary: A Timeline
Articles of Confederation
November 15, 1777The 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 General Assembly Commission for Delegates to Annapolis Convention
January 21, 1786Virginia selects delegates to send to Annapolis to consider the deficiencies of the Articles of Confederation.
Read moreLetter to Elbridge Gerry
April 30, 1786Rufus King laments the problems of governing under the Articles.
Read moreProposed Amendments to the Articles of Confederation
August 7, 1786A 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 General Assembly Commissioning Delegates to the Philadelphia Convention
December 1, 1786Virginia commissions and empowers delegates to attend a convention, to take place in 1787 in Philadelphia, to address the problems with the Articles.
Read moreLetter to George Washington
January 7, 1787John Jay seeks to convince George Washington that a convention to amend the Articles is necessary.
Read moreVices of the Political System of the United States
April 15, 1787James Madison lists and describes some of what he sees as the greatest problems in American government as of early 1787.
Read moreNotes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787
August 30, 1787Excerpts from James Madison’s notes taken during the Convention of 1787.
Read moreConstitution of the United States
September 17, 1787The Constitution as signed on 17 September 1787.
Read moreLetter to Congress Recommending the Constitution
September 17, 1787The signers of the Constitution formally recommend their work to the Congress.
Read moreJames Wilson’s State House Speech
October 6, 1787A respected leader provides a powerful endorsement of the Constitution to the representatives of an essential state.
Read moreFederalist No. 1
October 27, 1787Hamilton’s introduction to the Federalist effort, framing the importance of the public debate to come.
Read moreFederalist No. 10
November 22, 1787“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 moreFederalist No. 51
February 6, 1788“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 moreState-by-State Ratification
May 29, 1790Detailed records of the debates and votes in each state, 1787-1790.
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