The Declaration of Independence

Following the Declaration of Independence, and the birth of the United States of America, one of the most important task facing the new nation was setting up a constitution - a set of laws to govern the 13 states. On June 20, 1776, Congress appointed a committee, led by a man named John Dickinson; he prepared the first draft of the Articles of Confederation. After much debate and discussion, the Articles, the nation's first constitution came into effect in 1777. These laws helped to keep our country independent from collapse, however; it failed to unite the entire nation as a whole.
The articles, which where not ratified until March 1781, required approval by all of the states, this was not an easy task. Dispute over land West of the Appalachian Mountains and the announcement that Maryland assembly would not ratify until all Western states had been given
to Congress created a huge delay in the ratification of the Articles.
What the Articles provided was a "firm league of fri...