
Policy in a Page: When major political upheaval is afoot in the United States, the states themselves have often been the primary actors.
What: Stamp Act Congress
When: October 1765
At issue: Colonial taxation, Admiralty Courts, colonial civil and voting rights
Result: Repeal of Stamp Act
PT says: Colony Power"—a first step to "State Power."
What: First Continental Congress
When: September - October 1774
At issue: The "Intolerable Acts"
Result: "Articles of Association." Set up Second Continental Congress.
PT says: George III or George Bush -- the more things change, the more they stay the same.
What: Second Continental Congress
When: May 1775 - March 1781
At issue: The Revolutionary War
Result: Declaration of Independence, successful revolution
PT says: "In the beginning...they created a union."
What: The Constitutional Convention
When: May - September 1787
At issue: Weakness of the Articles of Confederation
Result: The U.S. Constitution
PT says: Truly one of America's greatest moments—brought to you by 13 independent states.
What: The U.S. Civil War
When: April 1861 - April 1865
At issue: Slavery, "states' rights'
Result:618,000 American deaths, slavery abolished
PT says: Carnage on an unprecedented scale, assassination of one of America's great presidents, start of 100 years of 'separate but not equal.' The states demonstrated what they can do, but not an experience we want to repeat.