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The Mayflower Compact was our first constitution. This groundbreaking document, the first of its kind, was a system of government where the people governed themselves.

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The sugar act,also known as the American Revenue Act or the American Duties Act, was imposed upon the colonists as a way to raise revenue for the British Empire.

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Taxes continued.. and the colonists were outraged.

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The Townshend Acts were a series of laws passed by the British government on the American colonies that imposed new taxes and took away  freedoms from the colonists.

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The Boston Massacre ~ Outraged with the taxes a mob descended on a few British soldiers outside the customs office. After the protest became violent, five colonists were dead.

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The committees of correspondence were shadow governments organized by the Patriot leaders of the Thirteen Colonies on the eve of the American Revolution.

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The Tea Act was the final straw in a series of unpopular policies and taxes imposed by Britain on her American colonies and resulted with the Boston Tea Party.

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The Intolerable Acts were punitive laws passed by the British Parliament following the Boston Tea Party. The laws were meant to punish the Massachusetts colonists for their defiance and protest of the taxation.

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In response to the Intolerable Acts 12 of the 13 colonies nominate representatives to attend the 1st Continental Congress to address their grievances with King George III.

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With the shot Heard around the world the 2nd Continental Congress elects George Washington to command the newly formed Continental Army

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Declaration of Independence was written to present the rights of the colonists to King George III. These rights include the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. When a government fails to protect those rights, it is not only the right, but also the duty of the people to overthrow that government.

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The Articles of Confederation get ratified. These thirteen different articles that granted powers to the states and to the federal government. ... Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated.

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The delegates of the Constitutional Convention framed the Constitution of the United States as a basis of government to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation.

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After two years of debate and discussion 11 of the 13 States vote yes to these new constitution of the United States of America.

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Eastern Illinois University :: Teaching With Primary Sources

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The Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) program at EIU has ended. We have worked alongside east central Illinois teachers since January 2004 and are proud of what we accomplished. Together we raised awareness of and promoted use of Library of Congress resources in the classroom and the positive impact that teaching with primary sources can have on student learning.

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The most well known part of the constitution written by Thomas Jefferson, describes the purpose of the document and the Federal Government.