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Constitutional Convention Opens
This is the day where a new formal document was beginning to be created, and is also where Massachusetts first called into question the Articles of Confederation. https://www.thoughtco.com/american-history-timeline-1783-1800-104301 -
Land Ordinance of 1785
Separated northeastern territories into townships sold for $640 each. https://www.thoughtco.com/american-history-timeline-1783-1800-104301 -
First inkling of the First Amendment
Virginia adopts a statute presented by Thomas Jefferson that guaranteed Religious Freedom to citizens of Virginia. https://www.thoughtco.com/american-history-timeline-1783-1800-104301 -
New Jersey's Plan
New Jersey refused to pay their money requisitioned by the government and instead gave a plan for each state to have a single vote in congress instead of it being based on population. https://www.thoughtco.com/american-history-timeline-1783-1800-104301 -
Depression
Throughout all of most of the summer (mainly in August), many states began feeling an economic depression with many foreclosures and bankruptcies. This led to an urgent need of a monetary system and caused many to lose faith in the new federal establishment. http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/rev-nation.htm -
Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion Begins and causes a brief period of anarchy across some states. Eventually, when the rebellion was crushed, it led to more focus on the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. https://www.thoughtco.com/american-history-timeline-1783-1800-104301 -
Another Convention
Congress holds another Constitutional Convention to discuss the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, and settle on making an entirely new form of government separated into the three branches we have now. http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/rev-nation.htm -
First Inkling of the Bill of Rights
The Northwest Ordinance formally established more states north of the Ohio River, but more importantly, included a Bill of Rights that allowed freedom of religion, right to trial by jury, public education and a ban on slavery in the Northwest. http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/rev-nation.htm -
A Compromise
As big and small states argued over how to be represented in Congress, Connecticut came up with a compromise to allow all states to be equally represented. http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/rev-nation.htm -
An Ever-Changing Document
Massachusetts agreed to sign the proposed Constitution so long as it allowed for amendments to be made to guarantee civil liberties as time goes on. http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/rev-nation.htm