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Revolutionary War
This war was between Americans and the British. It led to the birth of America's new nation. In 1783 the Treaty of Paris ended the war. Even though Great Britain had stronger and larger army, they could not cope with the transport and supply the army from across the world. Americans showed their true patriotism by not giving up even if the odds were against them. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a document that announced the thirteen original colonies were independent states and free from Britain after the Revolutionary War. -
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first written plan of the United State's government. It gave directions of how the governement should be operated.The document was not effective unless it was ratified by the thirteen colonies. It was introduced in 1776, and did not receive ratification till four years later. Each state retained it's sovereignty and independence.These articles were what led up to the Constitution. -
The Virginia Plan
Edmund Randolph proposed the plan, but James Madison wrote it. It consisted of the three branches; legislative, executive, and judicial. This plan had checks and balances, but also supports larger states. -
The Connecticut Compromise
This Compromise had a judicial branch which was appointed by the president and confirmed by the senate.It provided the power to tax and regulate. There was also a single executive elected by electoral college. No branch had too much power, and the people have the same say. -
The New Jersey Plan
This plan's author was William Paterson. As well as the Virginia Plan, it had the three branches. It was a legislative body with delegates equally assigned to each state; which gives equal represenation in Congress. The plan also gave smaller states an equal voice but belittled states with larger popultaions. -
Shay's Rebellion
A group of ex-Revolutionary War soldiers and officers were treated unfairly after returning from war. They forcibly prevented the courts in western Massachusetts from sitting. The ruckus was put down by an assembled militia, and the rebels were imprisoned or put to death. -
Ratification of the Constitution
The Constitutional Convtention mainly looked at the Constitution and had decide whether or not to throw out the whole thing, or ratify it. This ratification showed it's first signs of the people freely choosing their form of government. -
Constitutional Convention
This Convetion was a meeting to revise the Articles, which took place from May 25 to September 17, 1787. These men were aware of the problems the confederacy had, but they had no ideas of how to fix them. -
Bill of Rights Ratification
The Bill of Rights was passed on December1689 from the English Parliment. It became clear that without the Bill of Rights, the Constitution would not be ratified. The ratification of the Bill of Rights came later after George Washington was in office. They defined citizen's rights in relation to the newly established government under the Constitution.
