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Pilgrim Code of Law
The first covenant including many fundamental components of a constitution was the Pilgrim Code of Law. Its foundation was popular sovereignty, with yearly elections, and it expanded upon previous covenants such as charters and the Mayflower Compact. It established an institutional structure consisting of the legislature that chose a governor and seven council members as assistants. It outlined the authority of officials, mandated oaths, and offered jury trials. -
Declaration of Independence
A committee consisting of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman was created by the Continental Congress on June 10, 1776, to produce a declaration outlining the 13 colonies' intention to become independent states. The Continental Congress received a revised text from the committee on July 2, after which it was changed again and finally adopted the final form on July 4, 1776. Jefferson wrote the initial draft. -
Articles of Confederation
On June 11, 1776, the Second Continental Congress established a committee of representatives from each colony to establish a confederated government for the United States. The Articles of Confederation established a weak government tasked with facilitating a firm league of friendship between the states rather than a centralized federal government. -
The Treasury System was reorganized
The Continental Congress established two chambers of accounts, an auditor, an office of comptroller, and an office of treasurer on September 26. Additionally, a committee was chosen to create the Treasury Seal. -
Constitution of the United States
The Articles of Confederation were initially intended to be amended to make them more practical, as the current confederation was too feeble to defend its members against foreign invaders and too ineffective to maintain the union. The Constitutional Convention convened in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787. The delegates, presided over by George Washington, concluded that in order for the union to endure, a new constitutional order was required. -
Virginia Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom
The Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom, which was first presented to the Virginia state government in 1777, created a religious bill for public office. The bill, mostly authored by Thomas Jefferson, declares that it is "sinful and tyrannical to compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors," as citizens ought to have the freedom to support any church of their choice. -
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance, which was first known as "An Ordinance for the Government of the Territory of the United States North-West of the River Ohio," established a number of crucial rules for the uninhabited northwest frontier. The Northwest Ordinance stipulated several items, including the division of the Northwest Territory into three to five states, the process for allowing additional states to join the Union, and the provision of a bill of rights. -
The Constitution mandates a congressional journal
The Journal is actually a list of House acts without the discussion that goes along with them. Each House is required by the Constitution to maintain a diary of its proceedings. -
Federalist Papers
The Federalist Papers are a collection of 85 essays written by James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton that were published under the pen name "Publius" in an effort to convince residents of New York to ratify the Constitution. Historians and attorneys still refer to the Federalist Papers to learn about the original intentions of the Constitution's drafters and to comprehend the theoretical rationales behind some of its most important clauses. -
Federal Judiciary Act
Article III of the United States Constitution does not address the Federal Judiciary Act, which was signed into law on September 24, 1789, and created the jurisdiction and structure of federal courts. The Federal Judiciary Act granted the Supreme Court appellate authority over matters originating from federal circuit courts and state court decisions that denied federal claims, in addition to acknowledging the court's initial jurisdiction as stated in Article III. -
First U.S. Currency issued
The Philadelphia Mint produced the first American coins in 1793, which were then given to Martha Washington. Paper money was not issued by the government until 1861. -
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Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments, together known as the Bill of Rights, were presented by Congress and passed by the states in accordance with Article V of the US Constitution. The ratification of the Bill of Rights appeased those who opposed the Constitution, believing that the original text gave the federal government excessive power to violate state and individual rights.