Birth of a Nation: Revolution to Constitution
The First Continental Congress in 1774 brought colonies together but didn't yet call for independence. Influenced by Enlightenment thinking about natural rights and the social contract, colonists initially wanted their rights as British subjects respected. By 1776, attitudes changed dramatically with Thomas Paine's influential pamphlet "Common Sense" convincing many that independence was necessary.
The American Revolution gained crucial momentum with the Battle of Saratoga, a turning point that convinced France to ally with the rebels. With French support and diplomatic efforts from Ben Franklin, the Continental Army eventually secured victory at Yorktown. However, winning independence was just the beginning of the nation-building challenge.
The first government under the Articles of Confederation proved deeply flawed. States held most power while the national government couldn't tax, maintain a military, or enforce laws. Shay's Rebellion highlighted these weaknesses, convincing leaders that stronger central authority was needed. This led to the Constitutional Convention where competing visions for America clashed.
Connect the dots: The same philosophical principles about natural rights and government by consent that justified breaking from Britain also shaped how Americans structured their new government.
The Constitution emerged through compromise. The Great Compromise balanced the Virginia Plan (representation by population) with the New Jersey Plan (equal state representation), creating our bicameral Congress. The controversial 3/5 Compromise counted enslaved people partially for representation purposes. When Anti-Federalists insisted on explicit protection of individual liberties, the Bill of Rights was added to secure the Constitution's ratification.