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Declaration of Independence committee (DEC. OF INDEP.)
The committe was Continental Congress-approved, and worked to write the Declaration. The writors are Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, Roger Sherman, and Thomas Jefferson. -
Declaration of Independence adopted (DEC. OF INDEP.)
The Declaration of Independence is adopted by the Continental Congress. However, it is not fully signed by all colonies till around a month later. At this time, at least 24 copies were made for distribution. -
Riot in New York (DEC. OF INDEP.)
On July 2, the British navy arrived at New York. On July 9, 5 days after the Declaration was adopted, it was read in public in New York by George Washington. The result were colonists cheering and taking down George III's statue, burned it, and made ammunition out of the statue.This was significant in highlighting the patriotic effect the Declaration had on colonists. -
Declaration of Independence officially signed (DEC. OF INDEP.)
Relevant video
The Declaration has been engrossed, or completely inscribed. At this point, all delegates from the colonies sign the engrossed Declaration copy. This put the "independence" into official action. -
Articles of Confederation ratified (ARTI. OF CONFED.)
Informational Video
This was the initial government the United States adopted. In this system, colonies were separate with individual sovereigns. They would ally together should a defense for the country be required. There is a lack of an executive and a judical branch in Congress in this system. It was first drafted in 1776. -
Shay's Rebellion (ARTI. OF CONFED.)
Lasting until June 1788, this was a rebellion economically poor farmers in Massachusetts started against the government. They pushed for the issuement of paper money and the prevention of foreclosure on their properties. They resorted to more forceful means to achieve their goals. This event influenced Massachussetts into signing the US Constitution. -
Annapolis Conference (ARTI. OF CONFED.)
Lasting from Sept. 11-14, this was a conference between 5 of the 13 sttes to discuss how to fix the weaknesses present in the Articles of Confederation. The aim was to repair the government in way that another revolution could be avoided. The result was a constitutional convention, which created the US Constitution. -
Northwest Territory Act of 1787 (ARTI. OF CONFED.)
This created the northwest territory of the United States including the structure its governments held and how territories could become states. This eventually set the foundation for the formation of future states in America. -
The Great Compromise (CONSTITUTION)
Opposing parties in America call for different forms of representation in the government. The south calls for population-based representation while the north calls for equal representation. This compromise created the House (population-based) and the Senate (equal representation) -
The United States Constitution is adopted (CONSTITUTION)
This was adopted by the Constitutional Convention, a meeting to discuss problems in the U.S. It is a result of fixes to the Articles of Conferation in order to create a more reliable government system. At its core it is made of 3 branches: the legislative branch (making the laws), the executive branch (keeping laws executed) and the judical branch (judging the laws). -
The United States Constitution is ratified (CONSTITUTION)
Articles and ammendments
This means the Constitution was approved. This replaced the Articles of Confederation. -
The Bill of Rights is ratified (CONSTITUTION)
It is the first 10 ammendments to the Constitution that provided basic freedom and rights for individuals/citizens.
