FREEDOM SHRINE

After the American Revolution in the late 1700s, America needed a place to put all the new laws in its new government. The first attempt at a constitution was the Articles of Confederation, which gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules, but failed to recognize an enforcement of the laws, create the ability to regulate commerce, and print money. This caused many conflicts between the states, which threatened a break up of the country. Realizing something had to be done, Alexander Hamilton helped organize the Constitutional Convention, where delegates from different states met to discuss and revise the Articles of Confederation. After long deliberation, the delegates finally formed a powerful central government constitution that is still being used today. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, putting it to effect.