A Year Rich in American History
May
May 14 – In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, delegates begin arriving for a Constitutional Convention (United States)
May 25 – In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, delegates begin to convene the Constitutional Convention intended to amend theArticles of Confederation. However, a new United States Constitution is eventually produced. George Washington presides over the Convention.
June
June 20 – Oliver Ellsworth moves at the Federal Convention that the government be called the United States. Oliver Ellsworth moves at the Federal Convention that the government be called the United States.
July
July 13 – The Congress of the United States enacts the Northwest Ordinance establishing governing rules for the Northwest Territory. It also establishes procedures for the admission of new states and limits the expansion of slavery.
September
September 17 – The United States Constitution is adopted by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
December
December 7 – Delaware ratifies the Constitution and becomes the first U.S. state.
December 12 – Pennsylvania becomes the second U.S. state.
December 18 – New Jersey becomes the third U.S. state.
Artillery Retreat from Long Island 1776 during the American Revolution
The Battle of Long Island in New York
United States Constitution
“The Constitution, on this hypothesis, is a mere thing of wax in the hands of the Judiciary, which they may twist and shape into any form they please.” - Thomas Jefferson
Two Revolutions, Two Radically Different Outcomes
What do we mean by the American Revolution?
Do we mean the American war?
The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people; a change in their religious sentiments of their duties and obligations. While the king, and all in authority under him, were believed to govern in justice and mercy, according to the laws and constitution derived to them from the God of nature and transmitted to them by their ancestors, they thought themselves bound to pray for the king and queen and all the royal family, and all in authority under them, as ministers ordained of God for their good; but when they saw those powers renouncing all the principles of authority, and bent upon the destruction of all the securities of their lives, liberties, and properties, they thought it their duty to pray for the continental congress and all the thirteen State congresses.
– John Adams, February 13, 1818