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declaration of rights and grievances signed
The stamp act was a tariff law posed by the british to tax a heavier amount on newsprint, playing cards, and other paper products imported to the colonies. at that time it was unjust for the british government to directly tax without first going through the colonial assemblies. this declaration targeted that specifically. -
Boston tea party
The Boston tea party was basically the dissent of the colonial people coming to a head after the excessive taxation of commodities, such as tea. governors from all of the colonies except massachusetts were pressured into signing an agreement for more reasonable tarriffs, which led to action being taken by a group of colonial patriots. around 90,000 pounds were dumped in 3 hours. -
first continental congress meets
the stresses between the colonies and the british homeland was increasing. the intolerable acts were passed by british parliament, and the following outrage by colonials lead to the first continental congress to meet to discuss options to deal with the acts, including a boycott on british goods, and a plan to meet again if these failed to succeed. 56 members from all colonies except georgia were present. -
revolutionary war begins
in the beginning, there were no standing armies in the colonies, only local militias and farmers who wanted to protect their families from invaders. these troops lacked uniforms, proper weapons, and training, but General George Washington changed the way that wars were fought. with the roughly 20,000 men under his command, and about 90,000 in the entire continental army at one time, traditional standoff tactics would surely fail. -
meeting of 2nd continental congress
This event was crucial in the unification of the american people. prior to this, war had broken out in the colonies and time was quickly birthing an american revolution. in this meeting, the Declaration of independance was adopted, and it looked like the colonies and all of the delegates saw the british as their common enemies. as for the president of this unicameral congress, Peyton Randolph presided, and the secretary was Charles Thompson. The metamorphosis of a new country had begun. -
declaration of independance signed
An announcement of cecession was essentially what the declaration of independence was, with the entire committee that signed the document committing treason against the crown. If it were not for those men who risked everything to have a free nation, an independent American nation would not exist today. Thomas Jefferson was tasked with drafting the document, stating the grievances that the american people had against the king. things at that point were growing restless, and rebellion was at hand -
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articles of confederation ratified
The articles of confederation were the first signs of a central government after the revolution had been won. For the aricles to have full authority, all of the colonies had to approve it. For that reason, it took around three years to essentially "unify" the country. Even with this new government, the articles were weak, and didnt address all internal and foreign affairs. -
revolutionary war ends
after 8 long years of bitter fighting on the american continent, the british military was exhausted. after the battle of saratoga, the nations of france, spain, and holland all recognized the united states as a nation and aided with supplies, troops, and most of all, the ships that the continental navy lacked. all in all, the distance from the theatre, and stresses put on the royal forces forced the signing of the treaty of paris in 1783, and the states were born. -
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constitutional congress meets
55 delegates, all representing different colonies, attended the congressional meeting in philadelphia at the same place where the declaration of independence had been enacted. these men would join to form a federal union of states and to strengthen the government as a whole. at that point, the articles of confederation were too general and did not deal with trade regulation and national defense. after 4 months of tiring debate, state represtentation was solved and a stronger nation formed. -
final draft of constitution passed
it was a miraculous compromise, that created the government that still operates strongly today. the delegates all had their own plans on how to govern the fledgeling nation, but after a gruelling 4 months of convening the final draft of the constitution was signed, stating the valuable principals of equality, justice, and the fair treatment of all.
