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Oct 12, 1492
Columbus came to the New World
Columbus landed on one of the islands in the Bahamas which he named San Salvador. Believing he had landed in the East Indies he called the natives 'indians'. This was the first step toward european settlement and colonization in the New World. (Therefore, it is the first event that would ignite the need for a constitution, because being settled in the new world and wanting to govern themselves the colonists would need a specific set of rules or a constitution.) -
Period: Oct 12, 1492 to
Events leading up to the constitution
10 major events that led up to the signing of the Constitution, -
Mayflower Compact
Written by the colonists, also known as pilgrims, the Mayflower Compact was the first governing document of the Plymouth Colony. It was signed by 41 of the ship's one hundred and two passengers. The signing and agreement of this document started the desire for self government and thoughts of breaking away from Great Britain. -
The English Bill of Rights
Passed by the Parliament of England. The English Bill of Rights stated that the king could not raise taxes or an army without Parliaments consent, it guaranteed trial by jury, outlawed cruel and unusual punishment, and set rights and regular elections for Parliament. These rights were an example to the future writers of the constitution, as the first ten ammendments, or the Bill of rights, has similar rules to the English Bill of rights. -
The Quartering and Stamp Acts
The Quartering Act required colonists to provide food, supplies, and housing to the British soldiers in the colonies. The Stamp Act required colonists to pay taxes on all legal documents and items that had to be stamped. The colonists did not like these acts and resented Parliament for passing them. This resentment furthered the desire of the colonists to break away from British rule. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a political protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston. The Sons of Liberty dressed as indians and dumped an entire import of tea into the water. This was to protest the tax put on tea by the British government and the East India Company. This protest showed the colonists anger at the British for taxing the tea and other items. This is one of the movements that led to the Revolutionary War and the Revolutionary War led to independence and a need for a constitution. -
The start of the Revolutionary War
The first shots were fired in Lexington, Massachusetts and it became clear that the colonists were willing to fight to gain their independence from Great Britian. The Revoultionary War started because the colonies wanted to be free from Englands rule. -
Declaration of Independence
Announced that the 13 American colonies regarded themselves as independant states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. They would form a new nation; the United States of America. It was signed by representatives from each state. This document stated and expressed the desire for freedom and the colonists willingness to get it. -
Articles of Confederation
Created to give each state a small amout of independance. The congress could pass laws but could not make people obey them. They also could not control citizen uprisings. The Articles of Confederation were the first start to having a document for self-government and was practically the "first constitution". -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War. It was signed when the British recognized the colonies as free states seperated from Britain's laws and rule. The colonies had to govern themselves, thus the need for a constitution. -
Shays' Rebellion
An uprising in Massachusetts named after Daniel Shays, a veteran of the Revoultionay War and a rebel leader. Hundreds of men forced the shutdown of the Supreme Court and farmers protested against high taxes and large debts. This event was of major importance in newly gained freedom after the Revolutionary War. The Constitution was created to prevent such uprisings. -
The Constitution is signed
The Constitution for the United States of America is signed by 38 of 41 of the delegates present at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
