History Of The United States Government. -Kaira Jones By JustKaira 1774 1774 - The First Continental Congress meets in Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia from September 5 to October 4. 1775 1775 - The Second Continental Congress has its first meeting on May 10, 1775 at Philadelphia's State House. 1776 1776- Declaration of Independence Signed 1776 1776- Declaration of Independence Signed 1777 1777 - The Articles of Confederation are written and approved by the Second Continental Congress. 1781 1781 - The Articles of Confederation are ratified by the original thirteen states. 1791 1791-The Bill of Rights is ratified and becomes a part of the Constitution. 1791 1791-The Bill of Rights is ratified and becomes a part of the Constitution. 1861 1861 - The Civil War begins. Several states secede and form the Confederacy. 1861 1861 - The Civil War begins. Several states secede and form the Confederacy. 1870 1870 - The Fifteenth Amendment is ratified guaranteeing the right of all men to vote regardless of race. 1870 1870 - The Fifteenth Amendment is ratified guaranteeing the right of all men to vote regardless of race. 1913 1913 - The Sixteenth Amendment is passed allowing the government to impose an income tax. 1913 1913 - The Sixteenth Amendment is passed allowing the government to impose an income tax. 1920 1920 - The Nineteenth Amendment is passed giving women the right to vote. 1920 1920 - The Nineteenth Amendment is passed giving women the right to vote. 1951 1951- The Twenty-second Amendment is passed putting a term limit on the office of president of two terms. 1954 1954 - The Supreme Court rules that segregation in the schools is unconstitutional in the case of Brown v. Board of Education. 1964 1964 - The Civil Rights Act is passed.