One of the last acts of the Congress of the Confederation was to arrange for the first presidential election, setting March 4, 1789, as the date that the new government would come into being. One name was on everyone's lips for the new...

A brief discussion of the Newburgh Conspiracy, a threat for soldiers to take over the government because of the Confederation Congress' failure to pay them.

This informative and easy-to-read site contains information about how the United States formed its first government under the Articles of Confederation. From the Library of Congress

Our Documents is home to one hundred milestone documents that influenced that course of American history and American democracy. Includes full-page scans of each document, transcriptions, background information on their significance, and...

The Congress of Vienna, following the defeat of Napoleon, eliminated small states scattered through out German and instead established the German Confederation. How did the Confederation work towards economic and political unity during...

How did the new government deal the Native Americans living in the Northwest Territory? Find out what the government did to keep the peace between the original inhabitants and the new settlers.

A color map of Europe after the Congress of Vienna in 1815, which redrew the continent's political boundaries after the French Revolution, Napoleonic Wars, and the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire. This map is color-coded to show...

The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia provides an extensive biography on the life of James Madison. Provides information about his life before and after the presidency as well as his policies on foreign and domestic...

Biographical accounts of fifty men who played a wide variety of roles in bringing about America's break with Great Britain, and in the creation of the documents and plans that created the new nation, like the Declaration of Independence,...

At this site from the University of Groningen's page of "From Revolution to Reconstruction", you can read the Articles of Confederation, written in 1781. Authors listed with the states for which they were writing.

Multi-faceted site with hypertexted links to Jefferson's writings, summary of the events leading to the Constitution and the failure of the Articles of Confederation; included is Jefferson's original draft of the "Bill for Establishing...

[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart focuses on social studies skills by introducing students to Georgia's 1st Constitution and new United States' Articles of Confederation. Timelines are introduced where students add facts...

During the Revolutionary War, it was necessary to put together some sort of central government, primarily to raise and pay an army. Read about the rules finally passed by Congress in 1777, called the Articles of Confederation. See what...

As part of a comprehensive site detailing the American Revolution, this page defines the Northwest Ordinance as adopted by Confederation Congress.

Explains why the Articles of Confederation were not strong enough to hold the country together. One result was a farmers' rebellion in Massachusetts led by Daniel Shays, which was precipitated by a debt crisis that caused many farmers to...

Independence is so important to Americans. Congress for Kids provides a tutorial on this core value.

A biography of the first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and author of some of the Federalist Papers.

A brief article on the efforts of Charles Pinckney along with others to amend The Articles of Confederation. Includes links to original text of unsuccessful amendments to The Articles of Confederation

This site provides extensive information regarding several American constitutional issues such as: impeachment, war powers, interstate commerce, and the amendment process. Hyperlinks can be found throughout each constitutional issue to...

Boyhood saltbox home of the American statesman Samuel Huntington, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, Governor of Connecticut and first presiding officer of the Congress of the Confederation.

The home of William Blount from 1792 to his death in 1800. A veteran of the Congress of the Confederation and the Constitutional Convention where he represented North Carolina, Blount then became governor of the Southwest Territory, led...

Text and historically significant documents pertaining to the young US government's policies toward Native Americans.

This site explores the politics involved in Colonial Williamsburg, leading up to the American Revolution. Content focuses on famous speeches, documents, and influential people.

This map depicts Europe in 1815 after the fall of the French Empire and the creation of the German Confederation by the Congress of Vienna.