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John Locke anonymously publishes Two Treatises Concerning Civil Government, in which he discusses what would later become one of the basis' for American government and rights, life, liberty, and property. -
In response to the Intolerable Acts, a series of acts passed by the British to contain the growing resistance in the colonies, fifty-six delegates met in Philadelphia to discuss the acts. All states were represented except Georgia. -
The Battle of Lexington and Concord officially started the Revolutionary War. -
Thomas Paine publish his 47-page pamphlet, Common Sense, which would be a major step towards the Declaration of Independence. -
The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, is adopted after being approved and signed by Congress. -
The Articles of Confederation is ratified, a government structure plan that would later prove to be weak and harmful to the states. -
The British surrendered to the American Continental Army, led by George Washington, effectively ending the Revolutionary War. -
Passed in Virginia guaranteeing religious freedom. Drew from founding principles, viewing freedom of religion as a natural right. -
George Washington becomes the United State's first elected president. -
The Continental Congress creates and gives the states a new constitution to ratify. -
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay call for a Bill of Rights to be added to the Constitution in the New York newspaper column, the Federalist Papers. -
Washington approves Congress' request for a Department of the Treasury to manage the nation's financial endeavors. -
The Federal Judiciary Act put into place the structure and powers of the federal courts that were left unaddressed in Article III of the United States Constitution. -
The Bill of Rights are approved by the required number of states, and become amendments one through ten of the Constitution. -
6 states (South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Lousiana, Georgia, Florida) secede from the Union and form the Confederate States of American following the election of Abraham Lincoln. The Confederate States would later be joined by Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. -
The 22nd amendment is passed, limiting a president to two terms while in office. It was passed in reaction to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's four terms.