-
Declaration of Independence
God made all men equal and gave them the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The main business of government is to protect these rights. If a government tries to withhold these rights, the people are free to revolt and create a new government. -
Articles of Confederation
the Second Continental Congress established a committee of representatives from each colony to establish a confederated government for the United States. It was a weak government tasked with keeping the states firm with each other. -
The Treasury System was reorganized
the Continental Congress created an Auditor, Office of Comptroller, Office of Treasurer and two Chambers of Accounts. A committee was also selected to design the Seal of the Treasury. -
Shays' Rebellion
was a series of violent attacks on courthouses and other government properties in Massachusetts that began in 1786 and led to a full-blown military confrontation in 1787. Reshaped our government. -
Virginia Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom
The Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom barred the establishment of religious tests for public office. Thomas Jefferson was the primary author of the bill, which states that “to compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical” -
Constitution of the United States
With George Washington being the president, the delegates determined that a new constitutional order was needed for the union to survive. With designing a new constitutional order, the framers relied on historical examples from ancient civilizations like Athens, their own experiences with the British and colonial models of government. -
Northwest Ordinance
Originally named “An Ordinance for the Government of the Territory of the United States North-West of the River Ohio,” the Northwest Ordinance made several key policies for the unsettled northwestern frontier. Among other things, the Northwest Ordinance required that the Northwest Territory be divided into three to five states, it established procedures for admitting new states into the Union, and it provided a bill of rights. -
Federalist Papers
the Federalist Papers are made up of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, to persuade New York citizens to support the Constitution’s ratification. Papers 10 and 51 are famous for explaining the problem of factions in large republics and the importance of a system of checks and balances. -
Department of the Treasury established
On September 2, President Washington approved of Congress’s proposal to create the Department of the Treasury. The Treasury Department is the second oldest department in the federal government. -
Federal Judiciary Act
The Federal Judiciary Act established the structure and jurisdiction of federal courts. The Federal Judiciary Act recognized the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court found in Article III and gave it appellate jurisdiction in cases arising from federal circuit courts and from state court rulings that rejected federal claims. -
Bill of Rights Proposition
Congress proposed the Bill of Rights. The first Congress offered 12 amendments -
The Bill of Rights Approved
On December 15, 1791, Articles Three–Twelve, having been ratified by the required number of states, became Amendments 1–10 of the Constitution.