-
Second Continental Congress turned its attention to creating a national government
The committee appointed to the task consisted of one delegate from each former colony. With John Dickinson, the delegate from Pennsylvania, serving as chief author, the committee drew up a new model of government. In their eyes, the United States was to be a confederation. -
Period: to
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION TIMELINE ASSIGNMENT:
-
First Nation's Constitution
After six drafts and several months of debate, Congress adopted the nation's first constitution, the Articles of Confederation. Before it could go into force, it had to be ratified, or formally approved, by all of the states. -
The Confederation Congress to endorse the Philadelphia
In February 1787 Madison persuaded the Confederation Congress to endorse the Philadelphia meeting “for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation.” No mention was made of writing a new constitution. -
Northwest Ordinance
One of Congress's greatest successes was the passage of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. The ordinance established a plan for settling the Northwest Territory, which included areas that are now in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. This territory included the disputed western lands that had delayed ratification of the Articles.
