Era 03 · 1787–1814

Building a New Nation

Winning independence was one challenge. Deciding how to live together was another. Let’s explore government, a changing map, and the responsibilities that come with power.

— Limo, your guide through time

Cover artwork for Limo Journeys with Lewis and Clark

Let’s look a little closer

The story beneath the adventure.

A framework for government

The Constitution, signed in 1787, established a framework for the federal government. Its debates and compromises shaped the young republic.

Compromise had a human cost

The original constitutional settlement protected slavery in important ways. One provision prevented Congress from banning the international slave trade before 1808.

A map was never empty

The Louisiana Purchase transferred French claims to the United States in 1803. Native nations already lived on those lands; the agreement did not erase their histories or rights.

Explore the evidence: National Archives: Constitution of the United States (1787) · National Archives: The Slave Trade and the Constitution · National Park Service: Lewis and Clark Enter into the Louisiana Purchase

Limo asks

What would you
like to understand?

Pause here with a parent, teacher, or reading companion.

Why does a government need limits on its power?
When does compromise solve a problem, and when does it leave an injustice in place?
How might the same boundary change look to different communities?

Follow the pawprints