1. Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were written in 1781 and ratified in 1787. These articles created a weak central government and allowed each state to govern themselves without any federal oversight. The Articles of Confederation was not a constitution, but rather a set of rules that governed how states could interact with each other. The Articles of Confederation did not have its own judiciary system, instead relying upon the Supreme Court of the United States to rule on cases.
2. Constitution of the United States
In 1789, the first ten amendments known as the Bill of Rights were added to the U.S. Constitution. The Bill of Rights established certain rights for citizens of the United States. The Bill of Rights included things like freedom of speech and religion, right to bear arms, protection from unreasonable search and seizure, due process, and trial by jury. The Bill of Rights was later followed by the Fourteenth Amendment, which gave citizenship to former slaves.
3. Federalist Papers
The Federalist Papers were written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. The Federalist Papers were published between 1787 and 1788. In these papers, they argued for ratification of the proposed constitution. The Federalist Papers helped convince people to vote for the constitution.
4. Declaration of Independence
On July 4th, 1776, the Continental Congress passed a resolution declaring independence from Great Britain. On August 2nd, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence outlined reasons why the colonies had declared their independence from England.
5. Articles of Confederation
In 1777, the Articles of Confederation were signed into law. The Articles of Confederation were the first attempt at uniting the thirteen American Colonies under one government. The Articles of Confederation failed because the individual states had too much power over the national government.
6. United States Constitution
In 1787, the Constitutional Convention met for the first time. A group of men gathered together to draft a document that would create a stronger union than what existed before. The result was the United States Constitution. The United States Constitution consisted of three parts: the preamble, the executive branch, and the judicial branch. The preamble stated basic principles about the founding of the country. The executive branch included the president and his cabinet. The judicial branch included the Supreme Court.
7. Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights was added to the United States Constitution in 1791. The purpose of the bill was to protect individuals from the government abusing its powers. The first 10 amendments are considered the “Bill of Rights”. They guarantee specific fundamental civil liberties, including freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, petition the government, and keep and bear arms.
Article I: “We the People of the United States, in Order to Form a More Perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”Article II: “The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice-President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows.
Article III: “The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.
Article IV: “The right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
Article V: “No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to the Office who shall not have attained the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.”
Article VI: “In Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Interpretation of any Clause in their future Articles of Union, they shall meet in Consequence of such Disagreement, at a Place appointed by the State of New Hampshire, and shall proceed to resolve such Difference by Mutual Consent.”
Article VII: “If any Dispute shall arise concerning the Boundaries of any State, the Seat of Government of any District, or the Territory of any Insular Possession, the Parties concerned shall refer such Dispute to two Commissioners, one to be appointed by each Party, and the Decision of either shall be final, and the Legislature of the United States shall decide the Differences which may arise respecting the Territorial Limits of the said States, Districts, or Territories, according to the Rules herein after mentioned.”
Article VIII: “All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into before the Adoption of this Confederation shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution as under the Confederation.”
Article IX: “This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, are hereby submitted to the Approbation of the Senate.”
Article X: “The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several Legislatures, and all Executive and Judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.
Constitution of the United States
