Benjamin Franklin was the first to propose a plan for uniting the independent colonies under one overall government. Read his plan and compare it with the Declaration of Independence and the United State Constitution.
The Lee Resolution, proposed at the Second Continental Congress on June 7, 1776, was the precursor for a plan to unite the governments. The plan proposed the creation of a Declaration of Independence, a call to form foreign alliances, and a plan for "confederation."
On June 10, 1776, the Congress appointed a five-person committee to draft a Declaration of Independence. Although some minor contributions were made by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert R. Livingston and Roger Sherman, Thomas Jefferson was delegated the task of authoring it. By the afternoon of July 4, 1776, all of Congress moved forward with its adoption. Fifty-six delegates eventually signed the document.
In responding to the Lee Resolution, the Second Continental Congress appointed three committees with the task of creating the Articles of Confederation. John Dickinson of Delaware was chosen as its principle author.
In his draft, Dickinson named the new Confederation as "the United States of America." In the final draft, the Articles of Confederation gave each state one vote in Congress and powers that were not expressly given to it in the Articles were left to the states. The new resolution was adopted on November 15, 1777. All colonies joined except Maryland, which would not sign the Articles until March 1, 1781.
In response to increasing hostilities at the beginning of the American Revolution, the thirteen colonies began developing their own individual Constitutions. Many states turned to John Adams who had been advocating bicameralism and Republicanism. In 1776, John Adams published his ideas in a pamphlet called Thoughts on Government, which would become influential in not only the development of the Constitutions of the States, but also the Constitution of the United States.
On September 3, 1783, the Congress of Confederation ratified the Treaty of Paris and Great Britain followed suit in January of 1784. The Treaty of Paris formally ended the Revolutionary War and had the effect of establishing the recognition of American sovereignty around the world. In its aftermath, the Congress and the States of America began focusing its attention on the inadequacies of the Confederation and the need to draft a new Constitution.
On May 29, 1787, in an effort to set the agenda of the Constitutional (Philadelphia) Convention, the Virginia delegation proposed a plan for Constitution created by James Madison. In the 15 resolutions of the Virginia Plan, James Madison proposed an overhaul of the Confederation. Madison proposed a national government of three branches with checks and balances and a bicameral legislature that was based on population of the states.
At the Constitutional Convention, smaller states objected to the Virginia Plan because of the legislature would be based on population, which would leave smaller states at the mercy of the agenda's of larger ones. The Connecticut Compromise, offered by Roger Sherman, proposed a new bicameral legislature that resulted in the number of Representatives in the House being selected based on population and the number in the Senate being fixed, with each state having two representatives.
The Federalist Papers were a collection of essays, written anonymously by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, that were influential in persuading the delegates of independent states to ratify the proposed Constitution. Written to "the people of the State of New York," the Federalists recognized that Alexander Hamilton's home state was most skeptical and the greatest obstacle ratification.
The Constitution of the United States was signed by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787 and was ratified by each individual state in the following months.
The Bill of Rights were offered in 10 amendments to the new Constitution as a compromise between the supporters of the Constitution and detractors who believed the proposed Constitution failed to sufficiently protect the rights of the people and of the states.
John Adams may very well have been the first of the Founding Father's to advocate a need for the need of a federal republic based on a system of checks and balances. In his Thoughts on Government, John Adams gives direction to the delegates of the Confederate States of America, who were seeking guidance on the construction of their state Constitutions.
In defense of the United States Constitutions, John Adams writes a series of letters delving into the different kinds of republics and addressing their positive and negative aspects and how they relate to the Constitutions of the United States.
Thomas Jefferson authored the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which was adopted by the State of Virginia in 1786. The statute explains in detail a philosophy behind what would become known as the "Establishment Clause" of the United States Constitution.
In response to Congress' Bill entitled "An Act incorporating the protestant Episcopal Church in the Town of Alexandria in the District of Columbia," James Madison delivered a Veto Message in which he elaborates on the error of the Legislature and explains how the act is unconstitutional and how it pertains to the "Establishment Clause" of the United State Constitution.
In a letter to Robert Morris addressing a slave of a Mr. Dalby of Alexandria, George Washington appears conflicted between his ideals of abiding by the law and abiding by moral integrity. Although Washington says "I can only say that there is not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do, to see a plan adopted for the abolition of it [slavery]," he defends the rights of the slave-owner attesting that the way by which the Society of Quakers have attempted to liberate the slave is not the proper mode for reaching slavery's end.
In President George Washington's Will, he states his last wish to liberate the slaves he owned upon the death of his widowed wife Martha Washington. Upon hearing this, many slaves left before she died.
in a letter to Robert J. Evans on June 8, 1819, President John Adams discusses his disdain for slavery and acknowledges that he never once owned a 'negro or any other slave.'
In his Autobiography Thomas Jefferson discusses his effort to free the slaves of Virginia in the state legislature, discusses the paragraph left out of the Declaration of Independence in which he ridicules Britain for exporting slavery to America, and much more ... Analyze Thomas Jefferson's Rough Draft of the Declaration of Independence
In the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, Thomas Jefferson as chairman of the committee of three on the subject, secures language which states that the newly acquired territory will be free from slavery.
In the spring of 1807, President Thomas Jefferson signed into law an act effectively ending America's involvement in the slave trade.
Writing as President of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, and the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage, Benjamin Franklin labels slavery an 'autrocious debasement of human nature' and advocates emancipation of slaves and the just treatment for those who have already been freed.
On October 26, 1789, just months before his death, Benjamin Franklin delivered a 4-point plan for improving the condition of the free community of black people.
Samuel Adams, cousin of John Adams, outlines a philosophy on the rights of the colonists and Benjamin Franklin writes a preface for its English publication.
In a prelude to the coming Declaration of Independence, the representatives of the First Continental Congress assert their rights which were increasingly being trampled on by Britain.
Perhaps the most profound statement defending natural right's of mankind came from the Declaration of Independence, authored by Thomas Jefferson.
In response to the request by Congress for a day of Thanksgiving, President Washington invokes the "providence of Almighty God" in recommending Thursday the 26th day of November to be a day of public thanks-giving.
In response to the foreign aggressors against the United States, John Adams recommended May 9th, be observed as a day of "solemn humiliation, fasting, and prayer" in meeting the demands of the duty of "imploring the mercy and benediction of Heaven on our country."
With the onset of a war with Britain, James Madison responds to Congress' request to recommend the observation of a day of public humiliation and prayer. President Madison asks all denominations to pray for the restoration of peace.
In the midst of war with Britain, President Madison answers the call of Congress to invoke the observation of a day of public humiliation and prayer and for all to assemble in their respective religious congregations to "unite their hearts and voices in addressing at one and the same time their vows and adorations to the Great Parent and Sovereign of the Universe."
President George Washington gives assurance to the Seneca Nation that the new American government is devoted to fairness and friendship and explains to them their rights.
President George Washington takes great offense to atrocities committed against a town belonging to the Cherokee Nation, saying "such outrageous conduct not only violates the rights of humanity, but also endangers the public peace." Furthermore, he offers a reward for the capture of the offenders.
In his address to the Cherokee Nation, President Washington elaborates on the increasing population and the growing scarcity of the lands in which the Cherokee used to hunt. Washington urges the Cherokee to adopt new, modern methods of raising livestock and developing agriculture.
In an effort to create a new, strategic plan to improve relations with the Native Americans, President Jefferson introduces an act to Congress which would establish trading houses with the Native Americans and to persuade them to begin reform to an agricultural lifestyle.
President Thomas Jefferson delivers comprehensive instructions to Captain Lewis, of which include the goals of his expedition, surveyance of the lands for the use in commerce, and contact with Native American tribes.
In December of 1803, President Thomas Jefferson addressed the Choctaw Nation, praising the good relations and advocating a peaceful co-existence between the United State and the Native American tribe.
In Addressing the relations with the Chiefs of the Cherokee nation, President Thomas Jefferson emphasizes, in his view, the positive steps of the Cherokee tribe in efforts toward agricultural development and modernizing their society, while offering the United States' expertise. Jefferson also condemned attacks against the tribe on the western side of the Mississippi and further advocates a peaceful co-existence.
President Thomas Jefferson addressed the Mandan Nation, explaining its control of the land between Canada and Mexico and he offers protection and pleads for an end to violence.