-
Declaration of Independence
13 Colonies founded. Northern colonies didn’t like how Britain treating them and taxing them. North colonies made Thomas Jefferson write declaration. Unanimous vote in congress on July 4, 1776. Passed -
The articles of Confederation
In 1777, the congress could declare war, print money and appoint military because of the articles of confederation. But people were fearful of replacing the tyranny of British rule with another strong government. -
Land Ordinance of 1785
Northwest Territories surveyed and divided into townships. Township is 36 sections. Section is 1 square mile, contains 640 acres. Happened in 1785. -
Shays' Rebellion
The revolutionary war put many farmers into debt, providing food for the soldiers. After the revolutionary war, in 1786, farmers wanted to be out of debt, made a rebellion of other farmers, Shays was the leader. They fought General Shepard at Springfield, and lost -
The Agreement over slavery
The congress agreed not to do anything about the slave trade for 20 years, and that if a slave escaped the south and went to the north, the north had to send them back. Bad because slavery stayed legal for 20 years. -
The Constitutional Convention
In 1787 the Constitution Convention, they began the Constitution Convention because the articles of confederation weren’t working how the congress planned. But when they started, they realized they should just write a new constitution, so they did. -
The Virginia plan
Proposed in the constitutional convention of 1787, the Virginia plan was: 3 government branches, legislative, executive, and judicial, legislative: 2 branches, both have number of representatives based on population. Good for bigger states because they have more power, bad for small states because they have little power -
The Federalist position
Federalists said that the articles of confederation made a very weak government. They also believed that the new Constitution made the government able to work effectively. Some important federalists are James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. -
The Great Compromise
Made by Roger Sherman, the great compromise is so great because it took ideas from both the Virginia plan and the New Jersey plan. -
Northwest Ordinance
In 1787 the government passed a law. It made a government in the Northwest Territory of America, guaranteed rights to the settlers, and outlawed slavery there. Once population of the territory hit 60,000, they could make ask congress for a new state. America started to develop more. -
The Anti-Federalist position
Anti-Federalist were the people who believed government and the president had too much power and left the states with not enough power. The people who believed the total opposite were James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. -
The 3 / 5’s Compromise
North and South arguing about representation in house during the Constitution Convention. North doesn’t want slavery, south does. 3/5 of population of slave can count toward population. Good for southern states so they have more representatives in the house. -
The New Jersey Plan
The New Jersey plan was proposed by William Paterson in 1787. The New Jersey plan had three branches of government and one house in legislature with one vote per state. Good for the small states because every state got one representative. -
The Constitution is signed
After the Constitution was signed in 1787, the states had to vote to ratify. 9 out of the 13 states had to sign it for it to become in motion. Rhode Island was the last to approve the Constitution. -
The states vote to ratify
Delaware was the first to ratify the constitution in 1787. New Hampshire was the ninth to ratify in June 1788. One of Virginia’s representatives, Patrick Henry really hated the new constitution, but the other Virginia reps prevailed and they ratified. New York ratified in July 1788, North Carolina in 1789, and Rhode Island was the last in 1790. -
The amendment process
The amendment process began in 1789. The process was quite difficult. Amendment must be proposed first, then two thirds of house of congress can vote to propose an amendment, or two thirds of the state can request to propose an amendment. Next, amendment ratified, then three fourth of state must approve. -
The Bill of Rights
The first 10 amendments are known as the bill of rights. The bill of rights was passed by 1791, it was so important because, under British rule, some of their rights had been taken away from the colonial citizens, and they did not want that to happen again, and the bill guaranteed that it would not happen. The author of the amendments, James Madison, said that it was unnecessary.
