The Second Continental Congress agreed upon the Articles of Confederation shortly after the 13 colonies declared their independence from England in 1776. The articles served well during the Revolutionary War for conducting business in the US and with foreign countries but they gave little power to the federal government over the states. By 1887, four years after the end of the war, it became apparent that the newly formed country needed a stronger federal government to hold the states together. The Congress debated for almost six years before agreeing on the seven articles of the Constitution. The original drafts mainly dealt with the formation an effective federal government so including the Bill of Rights, 10 amendments that cover personal freedoms, was a hard fought battle. As the country progressed and changed 17 additional amendments joined the original 10.
The museum timeline explores the need for a Constitution, how decisions are made based on interpretations of the Constitution, and the reasons for each new amendment. Other exhibits include become a citizen, voting, and the workings of the Supreme Court.
The museum is accessible.
We parked along Dock Street which is about 1/2 - 3/4 of a mile from the historic district where all of the museums and landmarks are located. Dock Street is much wider than most of the other streets and we could always find an open parking space. The spaces are not marked so a ticket from the kiosk – payable by cash, credit card or phone app - is good for any size vehicle. Parking is limited to 3 hours however we were informed by a friendly local man that a disabled placard would get us an extra hour for free. This was confirmed later by a parking officer. Almost all of the sidewalks and curb cuts are in good condition and the terrain is fairly level. Museum 39.9529, -75.14929
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