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Sugar Act
The British Parliament passed the Sugar Act in 1764. It raised taxes on sugar and molasses as a means to provide increased income for the British empire. This increased colonists concerns about the intent of the Parliament and would lead to American Revolution. -
John Locke
John Locke was an English philosopher who greatly influenced enlightenment. John Locke believed that all individuals are equal and born with inalienable natural rights which are life, liberty and property. This directly influenced the constitution in its assertion of natural rights. -
The Battle of Lexington and Concord
Shots were heard from Lexington between the British and the colonists. This battle marked the beginning of the American Revolution and would lead to war. -
Declaration of Independence
On July 4th, 1776, the 13 colonies declared their independence from Britian and became what is known as the United States of America. On this day congress adopted the declaration of independence. -
Articles of Confederation
Congress adopted the articles of confederation on November 15, 1777. The articles created a weak central government giving most of the power to the states. The need for a stronger government would soon become apparent and eventually lead to the constitutional convention. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's rebellion was an armed uprising in response to a debt crisis in opposition to state governments efforts to collect taxes. The rebellion accelerated calls to reform the articles of confederation. -
Annapolis Convention
The state of Virginia passed a resolution calling for delegates from the 13 colonies to meet and discuss their nation's problem. The goal was to amend the articles. However, This was unsuccesful because only 5 of 13 delegates showed up. -
George Washington
George Washington was a military officer who advocated for freedom. He was a private supporter of the constitution and created an atmosphere allowing convention members to reach compromises. His aim was to create a nation that would stand strong with the war between Britain and France. -
Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention took place from May 14 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia. The purpose of the event was to determine how the United States was going to be governed. It had originally been called to revise the Articles of Confederation but many delegates had different plans in mind. -
James Madison
James Madison was the 4th President of the United States. He made a major contribution to the ratification of the constitution by writing the federalist essays. He was later referred to as "The father of the constitution