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Decleration of independence
the Continental Congress appointed a committee of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman to draft a document expressing the intent of the 13 colonies to declare independence as states. Jefferson penned the original draft the committee presented a revised version to the Continental Congress on July 2 and the Congress redrafted it before adopting the final version on July 4 1776. -
Articles of confederation
the Second Continental Congress established a committee of representatives from each colony to establish a confederated government for the United States. The Articles of Confederation established a weak government (lacking a military and unable to levy taxes) tasked with facilitating a firm league of friendship between the states rather than a centralized federal government. -
The treasury system was reorganized
On September 26 the Continental Congress created an Auditor Office of Comptroller Office of Treasurer and two Chambers of Accounts. A committee was also selected to design the Seal of the Treasury. -
First US currency issued
The Continental Congress issued paper money known as continentals. -
Virginia Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom
First introduced in the Virginia state legislature in 1777 the Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom barred the establishment of religious tests for public office as well as any compelled participation in or subsidization of religious enterprises. -
Constitution of the United States
The Constitutional Convention, which met in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, was originally tasked with amending the Articles of Confederation to make them workable, since the existing confederation was too weak to protect members from foreign invaders and too ineffectual to preserve the union. -
Northwest ordinance
Originally titled An Ordinance for the Government of the Territory of the United States North West of the River Ohio the Northwest Ordinance established several key policies for the unsettled northwestern frontier. Among other things, the Northwest Ordinance required that the Northwest Territory be divided into three to five states, it established procedures for admitting new states into the Union, and it provided a bill of rights. -
Federalist Papers
Published under the penname Publius the Federalist Papers comprise 85 essays authored by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, to persuade New York citizens to support the Constitutions ratification. -
Federal jury act
Signed into law on September 24, 1789, the Federal Judiciary Act established the structure and jurisdiction of federal courts, matters that Article III of the United States Constitution left unaddressed. The Federal Judiciary Act recognized the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court found in Article III and gave it appellate jurisdiction in cases arising from federal circuit courts and from state court rulings that rejected federal claims. -
Bill of rights
Pursuant to Article V of the United States Constitution, Congress proposed and the states ratified the first 10 amendments now known as the Bill of Rights. The passage of the Bill of Rights placated opponents of the Constitution who feared that the unamended version gave too much leeway to the federal government to encroach on the rights of states and individual citizens. -
The revenue act
On March 3 the first system of internal taxation in the United States was established. It imposed an excise tax on distilled liquors and was called the whiskey tax. -
Bill of rights approved
On December 15 1791 Articles Three Twelve, having been ratified by the required number of states became Amendments 1 10 of the Constitution.