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Stamp Act Congress
In October 1765, delegates from nine colonies gathered in New York City to protest a British tax that required stamped documents. They argued that taxation should be carried out only by colonial assemblies rather than by the British Parliament—summarized by the slogan “No taxation without representation!” This meeting marked the first time the colonies united to address growing tensions with Britain
Meeting of First Continental Congress
In September 1774, fifty-five delegates from twelve colonies met in Philadelphia to discuss the oppressive Intolerable Acts and their ongoing grievance over “taxation without representation.” Although this assembly did not call for independence, the delegates resolved to boycott trade with Great Britain if the Intolerable Acts were not repealed.
Meeting of Second Continental Congress
After the first shots at Lexington and Concord in May 1775, delegates from the colonies reconvened. At this assembly, they adopted the Olive Branch Petition—expressing loyalty to the king while denouncing Parliamentary abuses—and elected General George Washington as Commander of the Continental Army. A year later, facing irresolvable issues with Great Britain, they organized a committee to draft a declaration of independence that was eventually adopted and signed in 1776.
American Revolution
Spanning from 1775 to 1783, this war was fought by the American colonies against Great Britain. Fueled by resentment over mercantilist policies, “taxation without representation,” and the desire for self-governance—honed during years of salutary neglect—the conflict culminated with the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which established American independence.
Shay’s Rebellion
In 1786, roughly 700 debt-ridden farmers led by Daniel Shays launched a violent uprising in western Massachusetts. They targeted courthouses to prevent the foreclosure of farms amid an economic depression and high state taxes. The rebellion, suppressed by the Massachusetts militia, revealed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and spurred calls for a convention to reform the nation’s government.
Constitutional Convention
In early 1787, a resolution was passed under the Articles of Confederation calling for a convention of delegates from the thirteen states (with only Rhode Island abstaining) to revise the governing document. After initial delays in Philadelphia, and following informal meetings led by figures like James Madison, the convention began under the presidency of General George Washington. Instead of merely revising the Articles, the delegates worked behind closed doors to produce an entirely new Constitution, which was completed on September 17, 1787, and signed by 39 delegates before being sent to the states for ratification.
The Virginia Plan
Drafted by a Virginian statesman and introduced by another from Virginia at the 1787 Convention, this proposal was heavily influenced by Montesquieu’s ideas. It called for a new government featuring three distinct branches—legislative, executive, and judicial—and a bicameral legislature with representation based on the number of free inhabitants. The plan granted the national legislature the power to override state laws, select the national executive and judiciary, and include a Council of Revision to review legislation. It garnered support from the more populous states and contributed several key provisions to the U.S. Constitution.
The New Jersey Plan
Introduced at the 1787 Convention by a delegate from New Jersey, this proposal was a direct response to the Virginia Plan. It expanded Congress’s authority—giving it powers such as taxing imported goods, regulating trade, and electing an executive to enforce laws—while maintaining a unicameral legislature in which every state had one vote. A national judiciary was also established, and federal law was declared supreme over state laws. This plan was favored by the smaller states and influenced parts of the final Constitution.
Connecticut Compromise / The Great Compromise
Proposed by a delegate from Connecticut at the 1787 Convention, this compromise reconciled the competing demands of proportional representation favored by larger states and equal representation demanded by smaller ones. It established a bicameral legislature: a Senate with two senators per state and a House of Representatives apportioned by population (with a guarantee of at least one representative per state). Historians credit this resolution as pivotal to the success of the Convention and the adoption of the Constitution.
