Governing in Revolutionary Times and Reframing the American Government

By Period 5 APUSH

  • Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation

    Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation
    The Continental Congress adopted the first form of government for the US. They called this the Articles of Confederation.

  • The Articles of Confederation are ratified by the 13 states

    The Articles of Confederation are ratified by the 13 states
    The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of the United States, which was the first form of a Federal government.

  • The US passed the Northwest Ordinance

    Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, it provided that the Northwest Territory be surveyed and divided into adjoining townships. He hoped to create nine smaller states out of the region.

  • Shays' Rebellion begins

    Shays' Rebellion begins
    Farmers were not paid for their role in the revolutionary war. When the farmers attempts to petition the government failed, tense conflicts ensued. Armed groups of farmers, led by Daniel Shays, attacked courthouses throughout western Massachusetts.

  • The Constitutional Convention begins

    Fifty-five delegates met in Philadelphia who were white, educated men of property. The delegates met in secret as to not alarm the public. The main question of the convention was: Revise the Articles of Confederation or draft an entirely new document?

  • The Federalist Papers were published

    The Federalist Papers were published
    The Federalist Papers were a collection of 85 essays written by John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton. They wrote these essays to try and persuade the states into ratifying the new constitution.

  • The Virginia Plan is presented

    VA presented this plan hoping for a bicameral legislature with proportional representation. With this plan they hoped to bring more power to the larger states.

  • The Constitutional Convention passes the Three/Fifths compromise

    The Constitutional Convention passes the Three/Fifths compromise
    The 3/5 compromise was to help the census. It counted all enslaved people as 3/5 of a person and all free persons as one.

  • The New Jersey Plan is presented

    NJ wanted a unicameral legislature with equal representation, they presented this plan against the virginia plan in hopes of supporting the smaller states.

  • George Washington becomes the first US president

    George Washington becomes the first president of the newly unified Untied States of America.