When we think of the United States Constitution today, we often see it as a timeless document—a blueprint for American democracy that has endured for centuries. But in 1787, the Constitution was a bold experiment, born from crisis and fierce debate. To understand why the framers gathered in Philadelphia to draft a new government, we need to look back at the turbulent years that followed American independence and the crucial role played by a series of essays known as the Federalist Papers. Life Under the Articles of Confederation After winning independence from Britain, the thirteen states formed their first government…

 Preamble Power: The Vision Behind the Constitution “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” These 52 words—the Preamble to the US Constitution—are among the most famous in American history. But what do they really mean? And how did the framers, and the authors of the Federalist Papers, interpret this bold opening statement? A New Vision…