Articles of Confederation were ratified in 1781. This document consolidated the thirteen colonies into one country and was the early nation’s frame of government until the Constitution was written in 1789. Children could learn more at: Articles of Confederation.
John Morton died in 1777. His date of birth is unknown. Active in politics, he was elected from Pennsylvania to serve in both the First Continental Congress and the Second Continental Congress. He signed the Declaration of Independence, and he was part of the committee that wrote the Articles of Confederation. He was the first Declaration of Independence signer to die. Children could learn more at: John Morton.
Constitutional Convention opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1787. While the delegates came with ideas of revising the Articles of Confederation, they realized they had to create a new type of government. The Constitutional Convention concluded on September 17, 1787. Idea: Children could read Jean Fritz’s Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution.
Thomas Stone
Thomas Stone died in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1787. He was born in Charles County, Maryland, sometime in 1743. Representing Maryland, he signed the Declaration of Independence. He also served on the committee that wrote the Articles of Confederation. He did not attend the Constitutional Convention because his wife was very ill. She died in June 1787, and he died four months later. Children could learn more at: Thomas Stone.