Northwest Ordinance: Landmark 1787 Law Set the Foundation
On July 13, 1787, the Confederation Congress passed the Northwest Ordinance, one of the most important and influential acts of the early republic. It established a bill of rights years before one was added to the Constitution, and prohibited slavery in the territory...
Today in History: Continental Congress Approves Final Draft of the Articles of Confederation
On Nov. 15, 1777, the Second Continental Congress finalized the Articles of Confederation after 16 months of debate. The Articles were then sent to the states for consideration, and once ratified, formally united the 13 states into a confederation that retained for...
Federal Farmer: A Confederated Republic or Consolidation?
During the Constitution’s ratification process, there was little to no debate about the type of government desired. Whether antifederalist or federalist, both sides fundamentally advocated for a federal republic with a general government exercising expressly delegated...