CONSTITUTION
“By 1787, many leaders feared that the new country would fall apart without a stronger Central government. They called for a meeting of delegates from all of the states. The goal was to make changes in the Articles of Confederation. But once the delegates had gathered, they realized that a bigger change was needed. They wrote a brand-new document. It is called the Constitution.”

1776
"1776 -- what an amazing year! By the end of it, many Americans were no longer loyal subjects of Britain's King George III. Instead, they were proud citizens of a new nation. Of course, this didn't happen in just 12 months. By 1776, Britain and 13 of its North American colonies had been arguing with each other off and on for many years. Still, when 1776 began, many colonists believed that the two sides . . . "

REVOLUTIONARY WOMEN
"In 1775, Britain ruled 13 colonies, which stretched along the East Coast of North America from Massachusetts to Georgia. Many colonists were tired of British rule. They had quarreled with Britain for years about taxes and laws they considered unfair. Finally, in April 1775, fighting broke out between the colonists and the British army. The American Revolution had begun.”

JEFFERSON
"Thomas Jefferson was a man of countless talents and interests. Best known for the many ways he served his country, Jefferson was one of the founders of the United States. He wrote our nation's first and perhaps most famous document - the Declaration of Independence. He served as governor of his home state of Virginia. He traveled to France to represent the new U.S. government, and in 1800, he . . . "

WASHINGTON
"When George Washington died in 1799, General Henry Lee summed up his many achievements in just a few words. Washington, he said, was "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen." Most people remember Washington as the nation's first president, but he was also an outstanding military leader. He led the nation to victory in the American Revolution, an . . . "

HOW AMERICA WORKS
"There are three different levels of government. The federal (national) government deals with matters that affect all people in the U.S., such as printing money and establishing post offices. Each state government takes care of matters that affect people in that state, such as issuing driving, hunting, and fishing licenses. Local government deals with matters that affect the local community, suc. . . "

AMERICAN REVOLUTION
"If you sometimes don't want to do what your parents tell you to do, you have an idea of how Great Britain's 13 American colonies felt in the 1770s. Since 1607, people had been leaving the motherland to come to America for a variety of reasons: religious freedom, economic gain, and a new life, among others. While many of these colonists had their differences with Britain, most still considered them. . . "

BEN FRANKLIN
"Young Ben Franklin wanted to be a sailor and see the world beyond colonial Boston. Instead, he learned the printing trade and became the most famous American of his day-the best-known writer, scientist, and inventor in the New World. Europeans admired Franklin, too. "

COLONIAL AMERICA
"Picture yourself on the dock of Plymouth, England, a green and pretty port town. It's the year 1620. You are waving good-bye to your friends and relatives. Most likely, you'll never see them again. Like many Europeans of your day, you are boarding a ship for the New World. Your ship is called the Mayflower, and you will travel on it for two long months.Instead of sleeping on your soft bed, you sleep. . . "