Forming the American Government

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    Revolutionary War

    The Revolutionary War was a war between Great Britain and the thirteen American colonies. The war resulted into the American Revolution.
  • Declaration of Independence

    Declaration of Independence
    The Declaration of Independence was a statement that announced that the Thirteen American Colonies as independent states and would no longer be under the British Empire.Thomas Jefferson was the main author of the document and 56 delegates signed the paper.
  • Articles of Confederation

    Articles of Confederation
    The Articles of Confederation was a Constitution drafted by the newly independent states in 1777 and ratified in 1781. It was a failure because it created a weak national government. Each state was only allowed one vote in Congress.
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    Constitutional Conventions

    All of the conventions took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Initially, the conventions were held to revise the Articles of Confederation but then it turned out to be creating a new government. By the end of the Constitution, the United States Constitution was created.
  • Shay's Rebellion

    Shay's Rebellion
    Shay's Rebellion was a rebellion that happened from 1786 to 1787. Ex-Revolutionary War soldiers uprised in Massachussetts. The soldiers were promised to be paid for serving their country. Many poor farmers were crushed by heavy taxes and debts of state due to many battles on their farms. This showed a failure of the government to act on a Rebellion.
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    Ratification of the Constitution

    On December 7, 1787, Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution and the Constitution officially went into effect on March 4, 1789 after New York was the 11th state to ratify it on July 26, 1788. Three other states ratified it eventually also. The Constitution couldn't go into effect until at least nine states ratified it and it only took effect on the states that did ratify it.
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    Bill of Rights Ratification

    he Bill of Rights was first ratified by New Jersey on November 20, 1789 and went into effect on December 5, 1789 after Virgina was the 11th state to ratify it. Three other states eventually ratified it. The Bill of Rights were the first 10 amendments of to the Constitution that limited the power to the federal government. Also, the Bill of Rights protected the rights of liberty and property.