1775 Second Continental Congress opens.
1776 Declaration of Independence adopted.
Virginia adopts state bill of rights.
1777 Articles of Confederation sent to states.
1778 State constitutions completed.
1780 Pennsylvania institutes gradual emancipation.
1781 Articles of Confederation ratified.
Creation of executive departments.
Massachusetts slaves sue for freedom.
1782 Virginia relaxes state manumission law.
1783 Newburgh Conspiracy exposed.
Treaty of Paris ends the war.
Massachusetts enfranchises taxpaying free blacks.
1784 Gradual emancipation laws passed in Rhode Island and Connecticut.
Treaty of Fort Stanwix.
1785 Treaty of Fort McIntosh.
Congress calls for large requisition.
1786 Shays's Rebellion begins.
1787 Shays's Rebellion crushed.
Northwest Ordinance.
Delaware provides manumission law.
Constitutional convention meets in Philadelphia.
The Federalist Papers begin to publish.
1788 U.S. Constitution ratified.
1790 Maryland provides manumission law.
1799 Gradual emancipation law passed in New York.
1804 Gradual emancipation law passed in New Jersey.