The newly free colonies, who had now become states, were in need of a form of government. It wasn't until around 1776 that they became more open-minded about the idea of a constitution. The Articles of Confederation were the first laws that were placed on the states. They paved the way for the American Constitution that was created several years later. Charles Dickinson wrote the Articles of Confederation in 1777, using ideas from the Articles Benjamin Franklin had composed.

Finally, the Articles of Confederation were completed. It allowed the states to govern themselves, which is what they wanted. The Articles had to be ratified by all thirteen states, and eventually only Maryland was left to ratify them. Maryland was afraid of large states, such as Virginia, who held claims to lots of western land. Those states believed they should keep their land, while Maryland voted that Congress should be in charge of it. Meanwhile, the Continental army was struggling at Valley Forge. Congress had begun to print paper money, but it was pretty much worthless because there was so much of it. The army was unable to buy supplies and they were forced to plunder farms, leaving I.O.U.s that led them deeper into debt. The states refused to pay Congress and started to disregard what was written in the Articles. To get out of debt and get the states under control, some changes would have to be made.

Congress decided to sell land in the west to colonists to help pay off debt. Therefore, townships were created. Townships were sections of land that were divided up. Once a township housed 20,000 people it was able to become a state and part of the confederation. By now, the flaws of the Articles of Confederation had become very obvious. Alexander Hamilton decided to revise the Articles and make a brand new constitution. With help of the Virginia plan, the Articles of Confederation were abolished and the American Constitution was created in its place. This Constitution changed the negative parts of the Articles.