Primary
University of Chicago

The Founders' Constitution: Deficiencies of the Confederation

For Students 9th - 10th
University of Chicago Press provides a letter from John Jay to Thomas Jefferson in which Jay explains the need to reform the government existing under the Articles of Confederation.
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University of Chicago

The Founders' Constitution: Deficiencies of the Confederation

For Students 9th - 10th
The University of Chicago provides a letter from Richard Henry Lee to George Mason in which Lee describes the financial problems the Confederation has run into and suggests minor reforms be made.
Primary
University of Chicago

The Founders' Constitution: Deficiencies of the Confederation

For Students 9th - 10th
The original text of a letter from Alexander Hamilton to Governor George Clinton of New York in 1778 complaining of inadequate material for the U.S. armed forces and perception of weakness by foreign powers.
Article
University of Chicago

The Founders' Constitution: Deficiencies of the Confederation

For Students 9th - 10th
The original text of a 1787 article in which James Madison discusses the failures of the Articles of Confederation. An interesting look at the problems with the states and with foreign countries.