Key Milestones in American History and Democracy

The Pilgrim Fathers and the Mayflower

The Pilgrim Fathers (Mayflower) were a religious English group formed by the end of the 16^th century. Being dissatisfied with the political-religious environment of their country, they decided to emigrate, first to Leiden and later to the New World, where they founded Plymouth. They were gathered by the Puritan Church and took refuge from religious persecution and political instability in Europe.

The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence was signed during a meeting at the Pennsylvania State House (now known as Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776. The Declaration announced that the thirteen American colonies would no longer be under British rule. It established that the authority to govern belongs to the people, and that all people are created equal and have rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is one of the most important documents ever written in American history. Thomas Jefferson was given the task of writing a draft for the Declaration of Independence, which he worked on from June 11 to June 28.

The American War of Independence

The War of Independence, also known as the American War of Independence, was a global war that began as a conflict between Great Britain and its thirteen colonies, which declared independence as the United States of America. On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted for independence, issuing its declaration on July 4.

The United States Constitution

Regarding the Constitution, it was determined that there would have to be changes in the Articles of Confederation. Congress asked each state to send delegates to a meeting in Philadelphia to talk about such changes. The smallest state, Rhode Island, refused, but the other twelve agreed. The meeting became known as the Constitutional Convention. It began in May 1787, and fifty-five men attended.

The Bill of Rights

The Constitution went into effect in 1789 but was still not really complete. In 1791, ten amendments were made to it, called the Bill of Rights. The reason for the Bill of Rights was that the original Constitution had said nothing about the rights and freedoms of individual citizens. The Bill of Rights altered this; it promised all Americans freedom of religion, a free press, and free speech.

The American Civil War

The Civil War, or the War Between the States, was a four-year war (1861–65) between the United States and 11 Southern states that seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. It pitted the Confederate states (led by Jefferson Davis) against Union soldiers (led by Abraham Lincoln).

Causes of the Civil War

• Farming
• States' rights
• Expansion
• Slavery
• Bleeding Kansas

One of the main events during the war was the Battle of Fredericksburg, in which General Burnside took Fredericksburg but experienced a disastrous defeat when attacking Confederate forces that had entrenched in the high ground above the town. The Battle of Gettysburg, occurring from July 1 to July 3, 1863, was the most important engagement of the American Civil War.