Page 154 - Key to Social Studies 6

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How Did the Americans Make Their Constitution?

Was There a Second Continental Congress? The delegates in Philadelphia decided that they needed to create a constitution for the government to

set rules and laws that would guarantee basic rights for its citizens. Therefore, a constitutional convention
• With the increasing tension and was held in 1787 led by George Washington. After many debates, they agreed to write the Constitution of

the war between Britain and its the United States, which they signed in September 1787, and thus created the United States of America.

colonies, the leaders of the
They formed a federal government, or something related to a central government, that was divided into
colonies decided to hold the
three branches to protect the American citizens from tyrannical leadership.
Second Continental Congress in
The three branches of the government were the Executive branch, the Legislative branch, and the
May 1775 C.E. They assigned
Judicial branch. The branches had a system of checks and balances in which two branches could check
Thomas Je erson the task of
the third to ensure the rights of the citizens.
writing a document now known

as the Declaration of Independence.
George Washington of Virginia presides over the constitutional convention of
• In 1776 C.E., Thomas Paine wrote
1787 as delegates sign the US Constitution at Independence Hall in Philadelphia
Common Sense, which stated the

reasons why the colonies should

be independent.

• In July 1776 C.E., the Congress

voted to approve the Declaration

of Independence, written by

Thomas Je erson, and after many

battles between the two sides, the

British government recognized

the colonies as a separate and
independent nation.

Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Je erson
reviewing a draft of the Declaration of Independence
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