In 1787, the United States was a brand-new country. The thirteen (13) American colonies had won the Revolutionary War, but now they faced a different challenge: How should they govern themselves?
America’s first government, called the Articles of Confederation, wasn’t working very well. The national government was weak. The states often argued, and many people worried that the country might fall apart. A new plan called the Constitution had been written but before it could become the law of the land, the people had to accept it.
Three of America’s Founding Fathers: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, attempted to explain and support the new Constitution by writing 85 essays (the Federalist papers). The essays were published under the pen name “Publius” so people would focus on the ideas instead of the authors.
The following pages summarize these beautifully written (in early American English) documents into something that can be easily read and understood today.
As you read these summaries, imagine yourself as a survivor of the American revolution. You are no longer subject to the king of England’s whims. You are now a free citizen of the United States, and you are being asked to approve the rules by which you and your countrymen will govern yourselves.
Introduction by Gouverneur Morris, a representative from Pennsylvania,
We, the people of the United States, are creating this Constitution to build a stronger country. We want to make sure everyone is treated fairly, we keep peace at home, protect our nation from danger, help improve the lives of all people, and protect our freedom for ourselves and for future generations. The Constitution explains how our government will work to accomplish these goals.
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