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First Continental Congress
A meeting of colonial delegates in Philadelphia trying to decide how to act upon the British government being run so badly. The significance of this event would be that although the delegates did send King George III a Declaration of Resolves, he denied it so therefore it resulted in multiple clashes between the colonists and the British. -
Second Continental Congress
A meeting of colonial delegates that were deciding how to handle the fighting between the colonists and the British. The significance of this group is that they were able to raise armies when needed, slowly moved us to independence and they later ratified the Articles of Confederation. -
Publication of Common Sense
Common Sense is a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that supported independence from Great Britain to the people in the 13 colonies. This was significant because Thomas Paine was helping make steps towards our independence, and if he had not published this pamphlet who knows where we would be. -
Signing of the Declaration of Independence
Statement made by the Second Continental Congress which announced that the thirteen American colonies, regarded themselves as thirteen newly independent sovereign states, and no longer under British rule. This was significant because it meant the US finally had their freedom. -
Articles of Confederation
Agreement among all 13 original states in the US, which served as its first constitution until it was later replaced by the US Constitution. It was significant because it united the individual states and established the federal government. -
Treaty of Paris
A treaty signed by representatives of King George III of Great Britain and representatives of the USA that ended the American Evolutionary War. It was important because it made us a nation, England realized that we were actually a country after that treaty had been signed. -
Shay's Rebellion
Revolt led by farmer Daniel Shays to prevent judges in Massachusetts from foreclosing on the farms of farmers who could not pay taxes the state had made. It was important because before the rebellion it showed that people weren't being heard but after it ended the government gave tax relief. -
Federalist Papers
A collection of 85 articles and essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay promoting the ratification (confirmation) of the US Constitution. These were important because newspapers were sending out these essays they wrote for other people to see, which resulted in more people accepting the ratification. With more people accepting, the men knew they had succeeded and could let the people know their other ideas. -
Constitutional Convention
A group of people who wanted to revise the Articles of Confederation because of the poor government that resulted from it. Many people just wanted to make a whole new government in general instead of trying to fix the old one. Without this convention we wouldn't have the democracy we have today, which is why they were so important. -
Ratification of the Constitution
When New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify and the Constitution officially went into effect. -
Bill of Rights
A document that contains the first 10 amendments of the US Constitution. It is significant because it gives people the rights they need and deserve while the government still has power to run things smoothly.
