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Stono Rebellion
The Stone Rebellion, the largest uprising of the colonial period, so frightened White planters that they convinced the South Carolina assembly to ban the importation of enslaved Africans for 10 years and pass the Negro Acts of 1740.Enslaved people could no longer grow their own food, gather in groups, learn to read or write, or earn money on the side.The law reduced the penalty for a White killing an enslaved person to a minor offense, and it banned enslaved people from testifying in courts. -
Albany Plan of Union
At the urging of Pennsylvania's Benjamin Franklin, the Albany Congress (June 19- July 11, 1754) approved the Albany Plan of Union.It called for eleven colonies to band together, headed by a president appointed by the King.The Union would have jurisdiction over Indian affairs. -
Stamp Act of Congress
The Stamp Act required colonists to purchase paper from London embossed with a government revenue stamp.Only British currency could be used to purchase the stamped paper.The Stamp Act was the first effort by Parliament to replace a tax directly on American goods and services rather than levying an "external" tax on imports and exports. -
Townshend Acts
Townshend pushed through Parliament an ill-fated plan to generate more colonial revenue just a few months before he died, leaving a bitter legacy in British politics.This act surprised and angered many colonists, including Samuel Adams of Boston, who was a failed beer brewer and tax collector. -
Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense
Paine published stirring fifty- page pamphlet tilted Common Sense, in which he urged Americans to seize their Independence.Paine directly attacked the king, when common sense was published.He stressed that George lll caused the rebellion and had ordered the violation of American rights.Paine urged Americans to abandon the monarchy and proclaim their Independence. -
Virginia adopts the Statute of Religious Freedom
In 1776, The Virginia Declaration of Rights had guaranteed that free exercise of religion.Ten years later, the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom (written by Thomas Jefferson) declared that "no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place or ministry whatsoever" and " that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, there opinions in matters of religion".This helped shape the religious life in the United States. -
Shays's Rebellion
Armed groups of Regulators banded together to force judges and sheriffs to stop seizing the cattle and farms of those who could not pay their taxes.The situation worsened when a ragtag "army" of unruly farmers led by Daniel Shay, marched on the federal arsenal at Springfield in the winter of 1787.The rebels nevertheless earned a victory of sorts, as the legislature agreed to eliminate some of the taxes and fees. -
Bill of Rights is ratified
Congress approved 12 amendments in September 1789.By the end of 1791, the necessary three-fourths of the states had approved 10 of the 12 proposed amendments, now known as the Bill of Rights.The Bill of Rights provided safeguards for individual rights. -
Alien and Sedition Acts are passed
Legislation of the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 confirmed Republican suspicions.These partisan laws, passes amid a wave of patriotic war fervor, gave the president extraordinary powers to violate civil liberties protected by the Bill of Rights, all in a clumsy effort to stamp out criticism of the administration.They limited freedom of speech and of the press, as well was the liberty of "aliens" (immigrants who had not yet gained citizenship). -
Thomas Jefferson is elected president
In the election of 1800, Jefferson and Burr emerged with seventy-three electoral votes each.Adams received 65. When Burr refused to withdraw in favor of Jefferson, the tie vote on the Electoral College required a deciding vote in the House of Representatives. After 36 ballots, a majority of House members chose Jefferson over Burr.