Have you ever wondered how the United States was founded? The answer is a long, detailed, and complicated one. There were many people involved, from government officials to settlers. This article won’t go into the history or life of each founding father, but it does highlight interesting facts about the foundation of the United States. Let’s check them out.
1. The Foundation of the United States of America
The United States of America was founded and declared independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776. The colonists who rebelled against King George III of the British Empire can be seen as the founders of this country.
Although it is true that a rebellion took place beginning in 1775 and ending in 1783 with the Treaty of Paris, which granted independence to thirteen colonies and formed them into the United States, there were many earlier efforts by colonists to separate themselves from Britain. [1]
2. Declaration of Independence signed by Congress
The United States of America was founded on the 4th of July, 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was signed by Congress. However, the first settlers came to the United States in 1607, before it was a country. The first group of settlers arrived in Jamestown, Virginia, and set up a colony there. [2]
3. Americas was Discovered Accidentally
In 1492, Italian sailor/explorer/trader Christopher Columbus—an ambitious man with a strong desire to make money and accumulate wealth—accidentally discovered the Americas in his search for a westward route to India and its valuable spices. [3]
4. The United States of America was formed or founded on March 1, 1781, under The Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were first proposed at the Second Continental Congress in 1777. The Articles took a while to be ratified because they had to be accepted by all 13 states. After a long debate, the Articles of confederation were finally ratified by Maryland, which was the last state needed to ratify the constitution on March 1, 1781. This date is what many historians consider the date that the United States was formed or founded. [4]
5. The First Presidential Residence Wasn’t in Washington, DC—It Was in Virginia
George and Martha Washington used Mount Vernon as their Presidential residence during most of Washington’s presidency. They didn’t have an official residence until 1800, when John Adams moved into the White House, which he shared with his wife Abigail until 1801 when Thomas Jefferson became President.
6. The Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights (also called the first ten amendments) is the name of a series of amendments to the United States Constitution. Ratified in 1791, these ten amendments guaranteed basic rights and freedoms for all people in America. The idea for a Bill of Rights came from Thomas Jefferson, who believed it was important to have a document that protected individual liberties. [5]
7. The Thirteen Colonies of America
The Thirteen Colonies, also known as Colonial America or the American Colonies, were originally part of the British Empire. As a result of the American Revolutionary War, they declared independence from Britain in 1776 and formed the United States of America. [6]
8. Laws Regarding Slavery Were Made By Individual Colonies during the Colonial Era
During most of the colonial era, laws regarding slavery were made by individual colonies and could be very different from one colony to another. Some colonies allowed slavery, and some did not. In 1774, Rhode Island passed a law that was the first step toward ending slavery in North America. In 1783, Massachusetts abolished slavery throughout its territory. [7]
9. The United States was founded on a Set of Beliefs. Those beliefs were tested during the Revolutionary War
Among these beliefs was the idea that governments derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed.” It was a radical proposition at the time, one that has inspired people all over the world to fight for their liberty ever since.
10. The Continental Congress decided on September 9, 1776, to change the name of the “United Colonies” to “The United States.”
The Second Continental Congress voted on September 9, 1776, to adopt a new name for what had been called the “United Colonies.” It was no longer a bunch of outposts of the British Empire in revolt; it was now “the United States of America.” This was an important step toward independence and nationhood.
The moniker United States of America has remained a symbol of freedom and independence since then.
11. America’s First Major Settlement In the 17th Century
The first major settlement in America was Jamestown, Virginia. It was founded on May 14, 1607, by English settlers from the Virginia Company of London, which had been granted a charter by King James I. [8]
The settlers wanted to find gold and other treasure, but they ended up having to resort to growing tobacco in order to make money.
12. George Washington, the Revolutionary General and First President of the United States, was Born In 1732
George Washington was elected the first President of the United States after serving as Commander-in-Chief of American forces during the Revolutionary War. His leadership was instrumental in the formation of the new country. He presided over Congress as it drafted a Constitution and saw through the ratification process, which resulted in states ratifying or taking ownership of the document.
Washington’s second term only lasted four years, from 1793 to 1797, due to his decision not to run for a third term.
13. It took Thomas Jefferson More than Two Weeks to write the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is a statement that was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the 13 colonies then at war with Great Britain were no longer a part of the British Empire.
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence in 17 days. [9]
14. For a time, Philadelphia was the Country’s Capital before Washington, DC.
During the first days of the United States, Philadelphia was the capital city. The city is still home to many historic American sites and monuments, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, where both the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were signed.
15. The First Flag of the United States
The first flag of the United States, called “the Continental Colors,” flew over Philadelphia in 1777. The 13 stars and stripes represented each colony’s quest for liberty from British control
16. The United States Constitution Was Finally Completed in 1787
The Constitutional Convention finally approved the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787. Before this historical event, however, the Declaration of Independence played a crucial role in setting the original thirteen colonies on the road to freedom.
17. Boston Tea Party
The Boston tea party was actually a revolt against the high taxes imposed by Britain on the colonies. The colonists were forced to pay taxes without having any representation in the British parliament. [10]
18. The Foundation of New York Stock Exchange
New York’s Buttonwood Agreement, in which 24 stockbrokers and merchants signed an agreement under a buttonwood tree on Wall Street in 1792, led to the establishment of the New York Stock Exchange. The NYSE is now located at 11 Wall Street and is by far the largest stock exchange in the world by market capitalization of its listed companies. [11]
19. Thomas Jefferson Purchased Louisiana
In 1803, Thomas Jefferson purchased Louisiana from France, expanding its territory to reach the Pacific coast for $15 million (around $250 million in today’s money). Later, Andrew Jackson added another territory through Florida Purchase from Spain for $5 million. [12]
20. The Famous Last Line of the Declaration
The last line of the Declaration is famous: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”
Conclusion
The foundation of the United States was laid by a group of open-minded, hardworking, risk-taking, and smart men. It was laid on principles that are unique in the history of mankind and have enlightened many lives all over the world.
At last, everything came true when the United States of America was created. Today, American democracy is justly considered to be one of the strongest democracies in the world.
References
- https://historyplex.com/when-was-united-states-founded
- https://www.nps.gov/jame/learn/historyculture/a-short-history-of-jamestown.htm
- https://www.history.com/topics/exploration/christopher-columbus
- https://www.usa.gov/history
- https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/American-colonies
- https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/vermont-1777-early-steps-against-slavery
- https://www.nps.gov/jame/learn/historyculture/a-short-history-of-jamestown.htm
- https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/thomas-jefferson/
- https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/boston-tea-party
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/New-York-Stock-Exchange
- https://history.state.gov/milestones/1801-1829/louisiana-purchase
