Most Americans believe the United States government began in 1776 with the Declaration of Independence, or in 1781 with the Articles of Confederation, or even in 1787 when the Constitution was signed. But the truth—confirmed by the Library of Congress, early congressional records, and the Supreme Court—is far more surprising. The United States government as we know it did not begin until March 4, 1789, the day the Constitution officially went into operation.

In this Voices of Life — Did You Know? episode, Pastor David guides listeners through the remarkable and often overlooked story of how the new federal government actually came into being. You’ll learn how the Confederation Congress selected the start date, why the first day of the new government began with empty chairs, and how it took weeks be ...