Building a New Nation

After winning independence from Britain, Americans faced a big challenge: How should we govern ourselves? At first, the Articles of Confederation created a weak national government, which struggled with issues like trade, taxes, and defense.

The U.S. Constitution

In 1787, leaders met in Philadelphia to write a new Constitution. This document set up three branches of government and a system of checks and balances to prevent any one part from becoming too powerful. Key debates centered on how states should be represented and how much power the federal government should have.

Important Amendments

The Bill of Rights—the first ten amendments—protects freedoms like speech, religion, and the press. Later amendments continue to shape American life.

Early Political Parties

The first political parties emerged: Federalists (led by Alexander Hamilton) wanted a strong central government, while Democratic-Republicans (led by Thomas Jefferson) preferred states’ rights.

Applications Today

The Constitution is still the foundation of American law and government, shaping debates on everything from free speech to state vs. federal power.