Individual Acts that brought change (1776-1820) By facebooker_1445856582 Jan 9, 1776 Thomas Paine's Common Sense published anonymously in Philadelphia Jul 4, 1776 1776 4 July Continental Congress issues the Declaration of Independence Dec 26, 1776 Dec. 26 Washington crosses the Delaware and captures Trenton from Hessians Mar 1, 1781 Ratification of the Articles of Confederation Sep 3, 1783 Sept. 3 The United States and Great Britain sign the Treaty of Paris Apr 21, 1786 Shays’s Rebellion Massachusetts rebellion led by the Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shays against high taxes. Jun 25, 1792 U.S. presidential election, 1792: George Washington reelected president, John Adams vice president Nov 28, 1793 Eli Whitney invents cotton gin Jul 13, 1804 New Jersey abolishes slavery Apr 22, 1814 British troops burn Washington, D.C. but are forced back at Baltimore