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Declaration of Independence Signed
The Declaration of Independence was a document that the American colonists wrote to King George III declaring their independence from British rule. This followed Britain's mistreatment of the colonies by enacting taxes on the colonists without a representative from the colonies in the British Parliament. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was a document signed by American and British representatives that ended the American Revolution. It recognized The United States as an independent nation and gave The United States most of the British land east of the Mississippi River. -
Constitutional Convention
The Convention of Philadelphia, which later became known as the Constitutional Convention, was a meeting of delegates from every colony but Rhode Island with the purpose of editing the Articles of Confederation. However, they decided to scrap it and created the United States Constitution. -
Shay's Rebellion
Farmers in Massachussetts demanded reduced property taxes, and an uprising took place. The rebellion threatened the collapse the new nation due to lack of response from the government, and it showed the need for a strong central government in The United States. -
Ratification of United States Constitution
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, but the last colonies did not ratify it until May 29, 1790. The Constitution went into effect before then, though, because it needed nine colonies to ratify it, which happened on March 9, 1789. -
Invention of the Cotton Gin
Invented by Eli Whitney, the cotton gin is a machine that helps separate cotton fibers from seeds. It made labor go by much faster, which caused cotton to become a very profitable crop. This resulted in slavery to increase because slave owners wanted more land to grow more cotton and therefore more slaves. -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was a purchase of land made by Thomas Jefferson from France for $15 million at the time. This purchase doubled the size of The United States, but it was called into question about whether or not it was constitutional. -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a conflict between The United States and Britain, caused by The United States wanting to trade with Britain while maintaining neutrality, but The United States doesn't like Britain. The war's significance is that Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner as a prisoner of war during a battle of this war. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was an act used to settle the unrest caused by new states entering as either a slave state or a free state. The Missouri Compromise states than new states will enter in pairs; one will be a slave state, and one will be a free state. -
Dred Scott vs Sanford
Dred Scott was a slave freed by his owner through his will when he died. When Scott went to receive his freedom papers, the state of Missouri told him he could not be free. The case went to the Supreme Court, and it was decided that Dred Scott was a slave, which is property according to the Comprehensive Slave Codes, and therefore cannot sue in a court of law.