Understanding when the United States formed is about a timeline, not a single date.
- 1776 — Independence declared: The 13 colonies announced they were free from Britain and began forming a new country.
- 1777–1781 — Articles of Confederation: The new country tried to govern itself, but the government was weak and there was no strong central power.
- 1787 — Constitutional Convention: Leaders wrote a new plan for the government called the Constitution.
- 1788 — Constitution ratified: States approved the Constitution, agreeing to the rules for the government.
- 1789 — The new government starts: The United States operates under the Constitution with the first Congress and the first president, George Washington.
Bottom line: independence in 1776 started the idea, but the country as a working government formed in 1789 under the Constitution.