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American Revolution
The immediate consequences of declaring independence were the creation of state constitutions in 1776 and 1777. The Revolution also unleashed powerful political and economic forces that would transform the post Revolution politics and society. In the long term the Revolution would also have effects on the lives of slaves and free blacks as well as the institution of slavery. It also affected Native Americans by opening up western settlement. -
Declaration of Rights
The Declaration of Rights and Grievances was a document written by the Stamp Act Congress and passed on October 14, 1765. It declared that taxes imposed on British colonists without their formal consent were unconstitutional. The Declaration of Rights raised fourteen points of colonial protest but was not directed exclusively at the Stamp Act of 1765 which required that documents, newspapers, and playing cards be printed on special stamped and taxed paper. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 after the Boston Tea Party. The laws were meant to punish the Massachusetts colonists for their opposing in the Tea Party protest in reaction to changes in tax by the British to the colonial goods. The act took away self governance and historic rights of Massachusetts causing rage in the Thirteen Colonies. They were key developments in the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War in April 1775. -
Common Sense
Common Sense was very important because it helped people into supporting those individuals who favored declaring independence from Great Britain. This pamphlet explained the reasons why the colonists should break free from the rule of the British.
While they weren’t happy with the actions of the British these people weren’t sure that declaring independence was the right thing for the colonists to do. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence gave birth to The United States of America. One of the more immediate effects felt by the Declaration of Independence was the emancipation of black slaves. The Emancipation Proclamation, which gave black slaves freedom. The Declaration of Independence also paved the way and created equality among all men and women. The first ten amendments are truly and expansion on what the first fifty six signers of the Declaration had written. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles created a loose confederation of sovereign states and a weak central government leaving most of the power with the state governments. The need for a stronger Federal government soon became known and led to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The United States Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation in 1789. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion was a minor revolt. It was important because it convinced many people that the Articles of Confederation were inadequate. Shay’s rebellion gave impetus to those leaders who wanted a new constitution for the United States. Shay’s rebellion focused attention on serious weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation that prevented the national government from effectively managing the country’s finances. -
Constitutional Convention
The point of the event was decided how America was going to be governed. Although the Convention had been officially called to revise the existing Articles of Confederation, many delegates had much bigger plans. As history played out the result of the Constitutional Convention was the United States Constitution, but it wasn't an easy path. The drafting process was grueling they wanted the supreme law of the United States to be perfect