Declaration of Independence, the historic document adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, proclaiming the reasons for the political separation of the 13 United Colonies from Great Britain. See more »

Liberty Bell, the historic bell rung in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, on July 8, 1776. See more »

Stamp Act, an act passed by the British Parliament in 1765 to tax certain transactions and printed items in the American colonies. See more »

Annapolis Convention, a meeting of states held at Annapolis, Maryland, September 11-14, 1786, to discuss regulation of interstate commerce. See more »

Articles of Confederation, the written agreement that served as the constitution of the United States from 1781 to 1789. See more »

Intolerable Acts, a name given by American colonists to five acts passed by the British Parliament in 1774. See more »

Navigation Acts, the name given to laws regulating trade and commerce between Great Britain, its colonies, and other parts of the world. See more »

New Jersey Plan, a group of proposals presented by William Paterson of New Jersey to the Constitutional Convention on June 15, 1787. See more »

Nonimportation Act, a law passed by the U.S. Congress in April, 1806, to forbid the importing of certain goods from Great Britain, in retaliation for British interference with American shipping. See more »

Nonintercourse Act, an act passed by the United States Congress in 1809. The act arose out of British and French seizure of American ships and sailors during the Napoleonic Wars, when each country was trying to cut off the other from foreign trade. See more »