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Albany Plan is published
The Albany Plan was a plan to place the British North American colonies under a more centralized government. It was drafted by Benjamin Franklin. -
The Stamp Act
Was the first internal tax levied directly on American colonists by the British government. The new tax was imposed on all American colonists and required them to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used. Ship's papers, legal documents, licenses, newspapers, other publications, and even playing cards were taxed. The money collected by the Stamp Act was to be used to help pay the costs of defending and protecting the frontier. -
The Second Continental Congress
This congress met to discuss further unified colonial appeals, to plan protests, and to manage the beginnings of military action against the British. -
U.S. declares independence
Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence is published. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence, which proclaims the independence of the United States of America from Great Britain. -
Establishment of the U.S. Government
Maryland ratifies the Articles of Confederation, this formally establishes the first government of the United States. -
Meeting of Mount Vernon Conference
Representatives of Maryland and Virginia met at George Washington's plantation to resolve conflicts over the navigation of the Potomac and Pocomoke Rivers. -
Shays' Rebellion
Shays’ Rebellion is the name given to a series of protests in 1786 and 1787 by American farmers against state and local enforcement of tax collections and judgments for debt. Shay and other armed farmers from Massachusetts were defeated in their attempt to conquer an arsenal of weapons in Springfield, Massachusetts.