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Understanding the Articles of Confederation
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Before the Constitution, there was another founding document that held the United States together through the Revolution and its aftermath. This video traces the story of the Articles of Confederation, from Richard Henry Lee's resolution for independence to the debates, delays, and hard-won successes that shaped the young nation's first attempt at self-government.
As part of our Constitution Day Live programming, celebrating "Road to the Constitution," this video dives into how the Articles of Confederation worked, what they got right, and why their limits ultimately paved the way to Philadelphia in 1787.
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This was the first governing document of the United States of America. It was adopted by the Second Continental Congress in November 1777 and ratified by the states in 1781.
Encourage your students to understand the full story of creating a new form of government from the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution