Developments in American History Over Four Centuries Essay

This essay will discuss five significant developments in American History from discovery until 1877. They are as follows: The American Revolution (1775-1783), the signing of the Declaration of Independence (1776), the Ratification of the Constitution (1787), the Louisiana Purchase (1803), and the Civil War (1861-1865). Though American history has experienced many developments over the years, it is the firm belief of the author that these five developments were instrumental in propelling thirteen loosely associated colonies into the path of what would develop into the United States of America. This essay will show why the Revolutionary War was the first step toward democracy, how the Declaration of Independence signaled the birth of a†¦show more content†¦The signing of the Declaration of Independence was a cornerstone in American history because it sent a message. It was a brilliantly written document penned by Thomas Jefferson intentionally to deliver a message, â€Å" We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.† A line in the sand had been drawn. The Declaration gave us the foundation for a government, created by men, stating that the powers of government came from the consent of the governed rather than by a monarch with power given by divine right through inheritance. The Declaration of Independence stated clearly each injustice carried out against the colonies by King George sending the message we would rise to independence! If this document had not been written and endorsed by the founding fathers of our nation, it is likely that the British might have continued in their arrogance and not taken our stand for liberty seriously. Perhaps they might have even won the war since they had superior numbers, a seasoned army and a professional navy. Previously, if a capital c ity was captured the war would come to an abrupt halt. But still, the colonists continued to fight until British morale was so demoralized thatShow MoreRelatedThe Shaping Of Our Country1092 Words   |  5 PagesCeleste Munoz U.S History I to 1876 Mr. William Stowe 28 November 2014 The shaping of our country has been impacted by several different factors, each contributing to it in their own way. Four of the major pivot points that occurred consists of: Jeffersonian democracy, Jacksonian democracy, Civil War/Reconstruction, Revolution/Constitution. However one of them happened to be the most impacting which was the Civil War and Reconstruction. 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