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Jefferson Write the DOI
In June of 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. The Independence of Declaration is one of the most important documents in the United States of America. The Declaration was an act taken by all of the 13 colonies because they no longer wanted to be apart of Great Britain. -
Battles of Trent and New Jersey
The battle of Trent and New Jersey was fought on December 26, 1776 during the American Revolutionary War. This battle was small and only lasted 10 days. The battle of Trenton and New Jersey was the United States war of Independence. The American forces won the war. -
Manumission
Manumission was a formal process that slave owners gave his saves their legal freedom. Manumission refers to when a slave is freed by their owner. The first official slaves manumission act was taken in 1776. Owning or trading was considered disowning. -
American and British Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga lasted 18 days in 1777. This battle was a turning point for the American Revolution. The Americans won the battle of Saratoga. The end of this battle was also the end to the American Revolution. -
Howe captures Philadelphia
The British had captured Philadelphia on September 26, 1777. Loyalists lined the streets to welcome the return of British Authority when Howe entered Philadelphia. Howe had hoped to draw George Washington into a battle that could destroy the Continental Army. -
thru 1778 - State Constitutions
In 1778 the first constitutional convention was placed in Massachusetts. At this convention, they voted to draft a new state constitution with the state's declaration of independence. The document drafted by this convention has approved. This idea was not approved by the voters, which lead to a second constitutional convention, in 1779. -
Articles of Confederation
Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation the nations first constitutions after they appointed a committee to make a new central government. The confederation gave congress little power. The new central government didn't have a governments / chief executive, so the Articles of Confederation used it by using congressional committees. Maryland didn't like the Articles of confederation and refused to approve them until other states left their land. -
Congress prohibits enslaved people to the US
In 1778 Jefferson introduced a new Virginia law that didn't allow the importation of enslaved Africans. He proposed to ban slavery all together in 1784 in the Northwest territory. -
Winter at Valley Forge
Winter at Valley Forge was not easy. It was a severe winter, and terrible conditions. There were 11,000 soldiers stationed at Valley Forge, and hundreds of soldiers died from disease. The soldiers who did make it were held together by George Washington and loyalty to the Patriots. -
John Paul Jones & Serapis
In 1779 the American naval victory won off the east coast of England lead by caption John Paul Jones. John Jones led a small fleet around the British Isles while operating from French bases. -
Spain Declares war on Great Britain
Spain Declares war on Great Britain in 1779, creating an alliance with the Americans. King Charles the third would not consent to a treaty of alliance with the United States. Spain provided supplies and munitions to the American forces. -
British forces capture Charles Town
In 1779 the British planned to capture Charleston South Carolina. They were planning on using the city as a base for further operations in the southern colonies. The capture of Charles town was a major British victory. -
British surrender at Yorktown
On October 19, 1781 the British general, Charles Cornwallis surrendered his troops in Yorktown. He brought 8,00 troops to fight in Yorktown. They thought that British ships sent from New York would help them in the fight, but the ships never showed up. -
Plans for first Fed. Tax
The first federal tax act, was the Townshend act started by Charles Townshend. The purpose of the Townshend act was to put taxes on stuff that was brought into the colonies and used often, like glass, paper, and tea. -
The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was signed by King George ll on September 3, 1783. The Treaty of Paris ended the French and Indian War. The purpose of the Treaty was to end the American Revolutionary War. The British realized the independence of The United States. -
Spain closed lower Mississippi River to American Western Settlers
The Mississippi River was the western boundary of the United States according to the treaty. It also promised Americans the right of free navigation. Spain closed the Mississippi River to Americans in 1784. The westerns got so mad they threatened war with Spain. -
The Ordinance of 1785
The Confederation Congress passed a law in 1785 that allowed the congress to vote and sell the area north of the Ohio River. The land then separated the area into townships. The government sold each section for at least $1 an acre. -
The North West Ordinance
In 1787 the Northwest Ordinance was approved. The Northwest Ordinance was something that allowed the land north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi to all become one piece of land. It was then divided into different territories. It had a bill of rights that guaranteed freedom of religion to the residents. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion was a group was protesters that was lead by Daniel Shays. Shay's Rebellion was protesting to prevent the trial and imprisonment of debt ridden citizens. This protest lasted over 6 months. -
Convention
The Constitutional Convention took place in Philadelphia to decide how America was going to be governed. They needed to address the problems of the weak government. George Washington was the president of the Constitutional Convention. -
Singing of the Constitution
The signing of the Constitution took place in Philadelphia, in 1787 from May until September. The purpose of the Constitution was to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. -
Delaware fist state to approve Constitution
Delaware was the first state to ratify on December 7, 1787. Delaware was the first state to approve the Constitution, because the Delaware citizens believed that a stronger national government under the Constitution would help protect them from attacks, and the economic playing field with larger states. -
New Hampshire ratifies Constitution
The congress of New Hampshire voted to establish a civil government in 1788. This lead to New Hampshire ratifying the Constitution. New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution of the United States, making the document the law of the land and making the adoption official. -
State Constitutions
The Constitution was ratified by the nine states. New Hampshire was the last, ninth, state to ratify the constitution. After New Hampshire agreed with the constitution, they made the adoption official. -
Land Act of 1800
Congress passed the land act, which was a law that made it easy for people to buy land in the North West territory in 1800. The people could buy 320 acres of land for $2 per acre. When the people buy the land, they pay for half of it up front and pay the rest over the next 4 yearly payments.
