The More Perfect Union a Glorious Adventure!

Hosted By Curated By 504-865-3442 504-861-5405 Honors Box 75 Honors Program [email protected] Arthur St. Clair [email protected] in Congress Assembled Assembled in Congress New Orleans, LA 70118 6363 St. Charles Avenue February 2, 1787 to October 29, Loyola University Law School

A Glorious Adventure! Director of the Loyola University The More Perfect Union 9th President of the United States 9th President of the United States

of this requirement, ment of Education that

nstitutional Exhibit g Federal funding from the

“[e]ach educational institution that receives Federal

The Foundation For Freedom The United States Co was produced by Stanley Yavneh Klos thanks to a Bi-Partisan initiative envisioned by U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, to restore U.S. history to its rightful place in America’s In conjunction with this program schools. federal legislation was passed notifying: “Each educational institution receiving Federal funds from the U.S. Depart a new statutory requirement for implementation of an educational program pertaining to the United States Constitution, on a date designated by statute.” Specifically the Congressional initiative states in Section 111(b): funds for a fiscal year shall hold an educational Constitution on program on the United States September 17 of such year for the students served by the educational institution.'' For purposes of the Department's implementation ``educational institutions'' includes but is not limited to ``local educational agencies'' and ``institutions of higher education'' receivin Department.” Section 111 also requires that: “Constitution Day be held on September 17 of each year, commemorating the September 17, 1787 signing of the Constitution. However, when September 17 falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, Constitution Day shall be held during the preceding or following week.” , -

, containing the , containing States of America, Major General Arthur General Major oops in Philadelphia. oops in Philadelphia. The American Museum The inental Congress from s docketed on verso. on verso. docketed s r, 1787, 8vo., printing r, 1787, 8vo., printing - –This November 9, 1775–This November

- February 22, 1784 Military 22, 1784 Military February - – Autograph letter signed as signed letter – Autograph

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[Oath of Secrecy] eighty-seven by executed was of Secrecy Oath Delegates. Continental Congress 1778 Journals of Congress Proceedings of the Cont Continental Currency and Fugio Dollar signed as President of the Continental Congress Congress Continental of the as President signed Henry who ha to Patrick January 1, 1778 to January 1, 1779, Philadelphia: 1, to January 1778 January 1, the Printer to Printed by David C. Claypoole, the United Congress of Volume IV, 748 pages plus index, 1779. Jay, John Hyper-inflation of the U.S. Dollar with original Hyper-inflation to 1779. Also dated from 1776 currency of included is an 18th Century Monthly table US Dollar from 105 (indexed to for depreciation in January 1777 to 4000 March gold and silver) included in an Almanack for the 1780 that was Low. by Nathanael year 1786, published Boudinot, Elias Philadelphia, Septembe honor of being distinguished which has the very the of Constitution the to print magazine the first States. United President of the United States of America in of America States United of the President Congress Assembled, to Commission signed as Presidentthe of United 1784 States, in Congress Assembled with a printing of his Treaty Paris ratification ending Britain Great with War the Revolutionary [U.S. Constitution] St. Clair dated 9 July 1783 regarding the 1783 July St. Clair dated 9 to Princeton, NJ relocation of the government Tr mutiny of U.S. a due to Mifflin, Thomas colonies first met at Philadelphia’s City Tavern On March 2nd, "The United States, in Congress on Second Street, just north of Walnut Street. Assembled” was placed at the head of each page of Here, representatives caucused to decide where the Official Journal of Congress. The United the initial meeting of the “Congress of Deputies from States of America’s perpetual union, conceived the colonies in general” would convene, what should on July 2, 1776, proclaimed on the 4th, be the operating procedures and who should formulated on November 15, 1777 had officially serve as their presiding officer. commenced on March 1, 1781 under the watch of President Samuel Huntington with the ratification of the 13th State, Maryland.

The fourth stage is marked on March 4, 1789 when the second U.S. Constitutional government took office and the confederation congress faded away. 18 Months earlier, on September 17, 1787 The Foundation For Freedom: The United the Philadelphia Convention adopted an

States Constitutional Exhibit covers the four innovative Plan for a New Federal government distinct legal stages in the formation of the and rushed it to New York by stagecoach for United States of America: consideration by the United States in Congress The second stage was born on July 2, 1776 Assembled. Richard Henry Lee led the “9-13 opposition” insisting on unanimous State 1. United Colonies of America under the when both Robert Morris and John Dickinson, opponents to the resolution for Independence, convention ratification as per Article XIII of the colonial Continental Congress: “abstained” by not attending the historic session, federal constitution. Lee also sought to amend September 4, 1774 to July 1, 1776 allowing the remaining Pennsylvania delegation the new constitution. A heated debate ensued. 2. United States of America under the to vote for independence. On that date South James Madison and Rufus King’s opinions won U.S. Continental Congress: July 2, 1776 Carolina delegate Arthur Middleton, who had out in the end and they were earnestly supported to February 28, 1781 replaced former Continental Congress President by President Arthur St. Clair who, surprisingly, 3. United States of America under the Henry Middleton, changed the colony's position was and remains the only foreign-born President to yes on independence in direct violation of his of the United States. On September 28, 1787 the ratified Constitution of 1777 (Articles father’s directive. Finally, traveling 80 miles United States in Congress Assembled adopted a of Confederation): March 1, 1781 to through a lightning storm, asthmatic and resolution permitting state conventions to be March 3, 1789 suffering from a serious facial cancer, delegate formed to consider ratifying the new 4. The United States of America under the Caesar Rodney, who was summoned by fellow constitution. On June 21, 1788 the ninth State, ratified Constitution of 1787: March 4, delegate Thomas McKean, arrived in time to New Hampshire, ratified the new constitution 1789 to Present. break Delaware’s dead-lock. Rodney cast the meeting the minimum requirement of states to third vote for Delaware and it was for discard the Articles of Confederation and adopt Each of the four stages marks a different phase independence. With this vote, all 12 colonies the Philadelphia Convention’s Plan for governing the United States of America. The final State, in the legal evolution of the republic formed by adopted the resolution, introduced by Richard Henry Lee and John Adams, declaring “...that they Rhode Island, would hold out on ratification the British Colonies of Massachusetts, New are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and until May 29, 1790. Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New that all political connection between them and the state of York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.” Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The third stage occurred on March 1, 1781 when the Continental Congress officially The origin of the United States’ current tripartite recorded Maryland’s ratification of the Articles of government’s first stage can be traced back to Confederation. By virtue of this ratification, the September 4th, 1774 when deputies from the ever-fluid Continental Congress ceased to exist.