America's Founding

Explore the causes of revolution and the courage of those who broke from Britain. Visitors encounter early acts of protest and can view an original petition to King George III to repeal the Stamp Act (1765) courtesy of the American Philosophical Society, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense (1776) on loan from Elizabeth A. Luttig and the Honorable J. Michael Luttig, and notes from a 1775 meeting of the Second Continental Congress courtesy of Independence National Historical Park Collection.

Step into a Continental Army encampment at Valley Forge and hear the voices of George Washington and ordinary soldiers. This section features items such as a flintlock pistol and powder horn (1776) from Morristown National Historical Park, a pay voucher for a Black soldier (1782) courtesy of Angelo Scarlato, a speech of the Continental Congress addressed to the Six Nations (1777) courtesy of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and Elizabeth Drinker’s wartime diary (1777–78) courtesy of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 

Walk through an immersive street scene of Philadelphia in 1787, which includes archeological artifacts excavated from beneath the National Constitution Center that leads to an in-depth exploration of the events and debates of the Constitutional Convention. Visitors will see a printing of the Articles of Confederation (1777) from the Library Company of Philadelphia, George Washington’s fishing tackle box (ca. 1760–1800) on loan from Mount Vernon, and a rare first official printing of the Constitution (1787) on loan through Citadel founder and CEO Kenneth C. Griffin and his civic engagement initiative, Griffin Catalyst.

Trace the spirited debate over ratification and see primary documents including a first edition of The Federalist (1788) courtesy of Elizabeth A. Luttig and the Honorable J. Michael Luttig, Mercy Otis Warren’s Observations on the New Constitution, 1788, courtesy the Library Company of Philadelphia, and a newspaper report from Maryland’s state ratifying convention (1788) courtesy of Frank Amari, Jr.

Conclude with an exploration of how the Constitution’s ratification led to the document soon being amended to include the Bill of Rights in 1791. Visitors will encounter a rare printing of the 17 amendments passed by the House in 1789 before further revision by the Senate, on loan through Kenneth C. Griffin and Griffin Catalyst, highlighting the enduring effort to define and protect individual rights.

Explore arguments for and against the proposed Constitution and decide whether you agree or disagree. Would you have been a Federalist who argues in favor of the new framework — or would you have expressed concerns like the Anti-Federalists?

People living in the rebelling colonies faced a challenging choice: join the revolution with other Patriots or remain loyal to the British Crown. For some, political beliefs drove their decision. Others chose their allegiance based on concerns for their livelihood or freedom. Explore stories of real people to find out what they decided to do.