1. Declaration of Independence Articles of Confederation Constitution

2. Continental Congresses
First Congress 1774
Second Congress- 1775
Called in response to the passing of the Intolerable Acts
Boycott of British goods
List of grievances
Petition to king for grievances
King didn’t listen to any petition
Managed the war effort
Created the Continental Army
Drafted the Declaration of Independence in 1776
Drafted the Articles of Confederation

3. Declaration of Independence
Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson
Committee: John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman
John Hancock-president of the Congress signed first- big enough that the king in England could read his name without his glasses
Signed by a majority of the delegates on July 4th, a few signed on August 2
July 4th officially became our day of Independence
Signing the declaration meant also signing their death sentence should the colonists lose the war.
John Hancock- we shall now "all hang together", and Benjamin Franklin replied: "Yes, we must indeed all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately."

4. Creation of a Constitution
Articles of Confederation-
Drafted in ratified 1781
Had 13 articles:
Name of union- ‘United States of America’
Each state has own freedom and sovereignty
League of friendship-for protection
Anyone can pass freely between the states
One vote per state
Only central government can declare war
Taxes will be paid by state government

5. Constitution Official constitution is created 1787
Convention in Philadelphia
Balance of power
Legislative- law makers, Judicial- interpreters of the law, Executive- law enforcement
Two house legislature- house of reps, senate
Judicial- several levels of courts- local, state, and national
Head of state- president and vice president

6. Constitution Bill of Rights- Federal law is the law of the land
10 amendments that spell out individual freedoms
Federal law is the law of the land
States have the right to pass separate laws that are required for that state but not mandated by the federal government

7. Constitution Citizens allowed to petition the government for change
Amendments can be suggested to the constitution at any time, but they must approved by the people
Direct election of house of reps, senate, governors, and state officials
Electoral college election of president

8. Constitution- Balance of Power