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The Writing of the Declaration of Rights and Grievances
This document was written by the Stamp Act Congress. It declared that the Colonists possessed all the rights of Englishmen, taxes imposed on the colonies without their formal consent were unconstitutional, and trial by jury is a right. This document contained 27 grievances against the decisions and actions of British King George III. These grievances inspired the want and need for a new government. The writers of the Constitution addressed all the grievances in the Declarations. -
The passing of the Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were passed by the British Parliament. These laws punished the Massachusetts colony for the tea party protest. The Intolerable Acts made the colonists angry at Britain. The anger of the colonists encouraged the idea of a revolt agains Britain. The Intolerable Acts gave the colonists a reason to create a new government and create the Constitution in which their government would be ran. -
American Revolution
The American Revolution was a time when Colonies rebelled against the rule of Great Britain. In April 1775, fighting began at Lexington and Concord, igniting the start of the Revolutionary war. By the following summer the colonists were waging a full-scale war for independence. The American colonies won their independence in 1781, when the British Surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia. After winning independence the American Colonies needed a written form of government, the Constitution. -
The publishing of Common Sense
Common Sense was a pamphlet advocating Independence from Britain to the colonists. Paine argued for two main points: Independence from Britain and the creation of a domestic republic. Paine listed all of the major problems with the British political system and made it clear that there is no path to freedom without democracy. Paine gave an outline through his writing for a new constitution for America. He helped gain supporters for American Independence and for democracy. -
The signing of the declaration of Independence
The signing of the Declaration of Independence took place in the Pennsylvania state house. All of the delegates of the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration. The Declaration of Independence broke all ties between the American colonies and Britain. The Declaration set the principles for a just and fair government. The Declaration of Independence helped outline the Constitution. -
The adoption of the articles of confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first Constitution of the United States. The Articles were adopted by the Continental Congress. The purpose of the Articles were to preserve the independence and sovereignty of the states. The Articles created a loose confederation of sovereignty with a weak central government. The need for a stronger federal government led to the Constitutional convention which led to the Constitution. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion was an armed uprising against the Massachusetts state government. The rebellion opposed the state government's increased effectors on taxing individuals and their trades. The group attacked courthouses and other government properties. The rebellion was crushed but it was able to bring to light the issues with the Articles of Confederation. The issue of Federal authority linked to the Articles of Confederation spurred the Constitution. -
Start of the Constitutional Convention
The Convention was a hundred-day debate that took place in the Pennsylvania. The goal was to decide how America was going to be governed. It had been officially called to revise the Articles of Confederation, but many delegates wanted to create a new government rather than fixing the existing one. The Convention impacted the drafting of the Constitution by gathering all the delegates to discuss the new government. The start of the Convention led to the drafting of the Constitution.
