> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://america-250.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Founding Documents

> The documents that declared American independence and established its system of government.

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    Founding Documents · 1776–1789
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  <h2 className="hf-display mt-5 text-3xl font-bold leading-[1.05] tracking-tight text-[#15140f] sm:text-4xl dark:text-[#f7f6f1]">How a nation declared its freedom and built a government to keep it.</h2>
  <p className="mt-4 max-w-2xl text-base leading-relaxed text-[#15140f]/70 dark:text-[#f7f6f1]/70">The founding documents trace the birth of the United States: the break with Britain, the first attempt at national government, and the Constitution that endures today.</p>
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## The Charters of Freedom

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Declaration of Independence" icon="feather-pointed" href="/founding/declaration-of-independence">
    The 1776 announcement of independence and its self-evident truths.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Articles of Confederation" icon="scroll-old" href="/founding/articles-of-confederation">
    The first U.S. constitution (1781–1789).
  </Card>

  <Card title="The Constitution" icon="building-columns" href="/founding/constitution">
    The supreme law of the land, in effect since 1789.
  </Card>

  <Card title="The Federalist Papers" icon="book-open" href="/founding/federalist-papers">
    The essays arguing for ratification of the Constitution.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## The Constitution, Article by Article

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Article I: Legislature" icon="landmark" href="/founding/constitution-article-i">
    The Congress and its powers.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Article II: Executive" icon="user-tie" href="/founding/constitution-article-ii">
    The Presidency.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Article III: Judiciary" icon="scale-balanced" href="/founding/constitution-article-iii">
    The federal courts.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Articles IV–VII" icon="list" href="/founding/constitution-article-iv">
    The states, amendment, supremacy, and ratification.
  </Card>
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