On this episode of Our American Stories, before the United States Constitution, there were the Articles of Confederation. Written during the American Revolution, the Articles created a national government built on a “firm league of friendship” among the states. The Articles of Confederation limited federal power but reflected deep fears of centralized authority, leaving the founders' first attempt at a unified government susceptible to weakness and disarray.

For our ongoing Story of Us—Story of America series, Bill McClay, author of Land of Hope, walks through the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and how they ultimately paved the way for the United States Constitution.

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