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Virginia Declaration of Rights and Grievances
The Virginia Declaration of Rights and Grievances was an act passed by the "Stamp Act Congress" in retaliation to the stamp act. This was one of the first Instances where the Founding Fathers felt their rights had been infringed upon. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable acts were a series of punishments placed on the colonists in rebuttal to the Boston Tea Party. They have been dubbed the "coercive acts" because they further agitated the colonists and sparked the patriot movement. -
Common Sense
Thomas Payne created the most recognizable piece of propaganda during Revolutionary America. Common Sense pandered to the internalized fears of the colonists and called for their support of the Patriot Movement. It was the first Major Publication to call for a separation from the United Kingdom and Kind George III. -
The Declaration of Independence
The first official document passed by the Continental Congress that informed the King of their demand for Independence. This was a document that demanded human rights from Great Britain and with the newly declared independence, a governing document was essential to the perseverance of the new nation. -
The Articles of the Confederation
The Articles of the Confederation was the first governing document of the new nation. It was poorly drafted and excluded taxation and an executive branch of the federal government. This flawed system of government was set up for failure so naturally a new document was necessary. -
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Shay's Rebellion
Shays rebellion was the first major public demonstration that the new country ever faced. It challenged the Articles of Confederation and the rights within the document and officially called for a ratification which occurred in June of 1788. -
Constitution
Our current set of fundamental principles were created on September 17, 1787.
