ROAD TO THE U S CONSTITUTION 1754 1791

ROAD TO THE U. S. CONSTITUTION 1754 -1791

The French and Indian War 1754 -1763 The British charged the Americans high taxes after fighting the French and Indian War in the American Colonies

Stamp Act Tax passed 1765 • The Stamp Act Tax was one of the taxed passed to help pay the high cost of the French and Indian war

Boston Massacre 1770 • As a result of the Numerous Taxes on the colonists, the colonists began to protest and rebel

Boston Tea Party 1773 • The tea tax was the final straw for the colonist. In protest, they tossed tea into the Boston Harbor

First Meeting of the 2 nd Continental Congress-1775 • The Colonists met to discuss the problems and possible solutions with the British

Declaration of Independence signed 1776 • The 1 st Continental Congress elected Thomas Jefferson to draft the Declaration of Independence after the issues with British could not be resolved.

Battle of Yorktown-1781 • The Battle of Yorktown ended the American Revolution

Articles of Confederation accepted by states-1781 • The Articles of Confederation was America’s FIRST Constitution

Shays’ Rebellion-1786 • The Articles of Confederation had many flaws. Shay’s Rebellion was caused because of the lack of money.

Northwest Ordinace-1787 • The Northwest territory was added to the Confederation which brought up the issue of slavery. The national government was too weak to settle this issue.

Delegates Finish Writing the Constitution-1787 • The delegates met again to revise the Articles of Confederation, but a new government was necessary. The delegates wrote a new Constitution.

New Hampshire ratifies Constitution 1788 • With the ratification from New Hampshire (9 th ), the Constitution became the official government of the American states.

George Washington sworn in as 1 st US president-1789 • George Washington was the obvious choice for the 1 st US president because he was the military general who won us the American Revolution.

US Congress meets for the first time 1789 • After the president had been sworn in the 1 st US Congress was ready to meet.

Bill of Rights added to the Constitution 1791 • The Anti-federalist had been against the US Constitution because the national government was too strong, and it did not give the people rights. • The Federalist wrote several essays that became known as The Federalist Papers trying to get support for the Constitution. • The Federalist finally compromised and added the Bill of Rights.