Origination of Rights in America

By gbond

  • Declaration of Independence

    Declaration of Independence approved. The document states that America is seperate from Britain.
    "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." This statement illustrates the importance of an individual rights and liberties.

  • End of Revolutionary War

    The war between American colonists and the British Empire ends with the Treaty of Paris. America now recognized as sovereign nation.

  • Thomas Jefferson

    Thomas Jefferson was a notable Anti-federalist and protector of civil rights and strongly opposed a central bank.
    “I sincerely believe that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies, and that the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale.” “I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.”

  • Philadelphia Convention

    Meeting held in Philadelphia to address problems facing America. The federalist favored the idea of creating a new government, rather than fix the existing one. The federalists wanted a more centralized government. The Anti-federalists wanted to keep the existing government. Feared a large federal government, more concerned about civil liberties.

  • Debate over Bill of Rights

    Delegates debate about adding the Bill of Rights to constitution at the Philadelphia Convention.

  • First congress meets in New York

    George Washinton also elected president the same year.

  • Madison introduces Bill of Rights

    James Madison introduces Bill of Rights to Congress as a series o legislative articles.

  • Bill of Rights ratified

    A victory in wake of deafeat for the Antifederalists, they secured some civil liberties for the citizens of the United States of America.
    Orginally written on september 25, 1789.

  • 13th Amendment

    Abolished slavery.

  • 14th amendment

    14th amendment added to the constitution. The Amendment granted due process and equal protection under the law to African Americans.
    The amendment was contested by southern states.

  • 15th Amendment

    The 15th Amendment granted blacks the right to vote, including former slaves.