Why The Constitution Was Signed

Why The U.S. Constitution Was Signed

Here is a timeline as to explain why the U.S Constitution was signed. It is simplified, and therefore some small things are not in the paragraphs. All that aside, enjoy the brain food.


1764 - 1769

• The British Parliament passed different Acts against the Colonists, such as the Stamp Act. These acts taxed colonists to pay for British expenses.

1773

• The Colonists held the Boston Tea Party (which is not a party at all.). They dumped cases of tea into the Boston Harbor in Massachusetts to rebel against the taxes filed against them.

1774

• The British Parliament created the Intolerable Acts Act as a punishment for the Colonists. The Continental Congress met up at the Carpenter's Hall in September 1774. They were there for one sole purpose; to make a Declaration of Rights.

1775

• This was the year that the infamous Revolutionary War started. It was April 19th, 1775. It had all started with the Battle of Lexington and Concord. In May, the Second Congress met in Philadelphia. The Second Congress kept meeting until 1781. At that time,  the Congress signed the Declaration of Independence.

1776

• Thomas Paine published Common Sense in January. In June, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. 

1777

• British soldiers occupied Philadelphia from September 1777 to June 1778. Many American prisoners died. The Second Congress approved the Articles of Confederation, after a very long debate.

1778

• Benjamin Franklin had the United States and France become allies.

1783

• In March, the articles accepted years ago went into affect.

1786

• Shay's Rebellion occurred during this year. 

1787

• The U.S. Constitution was signed on September 17th, 1787.

info taken from: http://www.theconstitutional.com/field-trips/timeline-road-nationhood