The declaration and achievement of independence and the establishment of state and federal constitutions were pivotal events not only in American history but also “in the course of human events.” No one better assisted and chronicled these momentous events than Thomas Paine, a recent immigrant from England who arrived in Philadelphia on 30 November 1774. …
Antifederalists throughout the country voiced a wide range of objections to the Constitution, some times even disagreeing among themselves on these criticisms. Yet they shared four core criticisms: (1) the omission of a bill of rights; (2) that the creation of a consolidated national government endangered the sovereignty of the states; (3) the weakness and …
On 7 June 1776 Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee presented a resolution to the Second Continental Congress that called for the American colonies’ independence. In response, Congress formed three committees: to draft a declaration of independence, to draft articles of Union, and to seek foreign assistance. More than a year passed before Congress forwarded its …
The British finally evacuated New York City on 25 November 1783. General George Washington and New York Governor George Clinton rode into the city together, marking the end of nearly seven years of British occupation. Residents, returning refugees, and the army filled the streets in celebration. When it came time for Washington to depart, he …
When the Constitutional Convention considered the office of the President of the United States, all of the delegates naturally presumed that George Washington would be the only logical choice to fill the position. Because of Washington’s expected election and because of his service as commander-in-chief during the war (especially his retirement from the army at …
Historians have long described the differences between Federalists and Antifederalists, often attributing the latter’s failure to their inability to offer a single viable alternative to the proposed Constitution. Yet, from a broader perspective, many Antifederalists joined with their Federalist opponents in admiring much of the proposed Constitution. Antifederalists primarily objected to the absence of …
Americans during the Revolutionary era were intently interested in the nature of government and how best to preserve liberty. From 1763 to 1800, public debate over these issues was intense and wide-ranging. Halfway through this period, many Americans decided that their liberty could best be preserved outside of the British Empire. In an era of …