After winning the American Revolution and claiming independence from British rule, the thirteen original North American colonies formed a fairly loose structure of governance regulated by a weak constitution called the Articles of Confederation. By then it had become clear that a new and stronger form of governance would be necessary if the new nation were to survive, let alone prosper.

The Constitutional Convention for the new American nation was held in 1787, and its opening lines aptly captured the spirit of democracy and faith in citizen governance in the following lines, which have now stood the test of time for more than two centuries.

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, 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.