What came first—the chicken or the egg?

In Revolutionary America, the nation was the egg—waiting to hatch into a glorious bald eagle. After the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Founding Fathers entered an experimental era of governing and building a lasting union. One document that emerged during this time was the Articles of Confederation—America’s first constitution—the egg before the eagle took flight.

In this episode of In the Archives, we continue our Made in America series with the documents that shaped our identity. Join us as we explore the rise, fall, and legacy of the Articles of Confederation.

Contains music from 1776: "The Egg"