<P> The radical provisions of Pennsylvania's constitution lasted only 14 years . In 1790, conservatives gained power in the state legislature, called a new constitutional convention, and rewrote the constitution . The new constitution substantially reduced universal male suffrage, gave the governor veto power and patronage appointment authority, and added an upper house with substantial wealth qualifications to the unicameral legislature . Thomas Paine called it a constitution unworthy of America . </P> <P> In April 1776, the North Carolina Provincial Congress issued the Halifax Resolves explicitly authorizing its delegates to vote for independence . In May, Congress called on all the states to write constitutions and eliminate the last remnants of royal rule . </P> <P> By June, nine colonies were ready for independence; one by one, the last four fell into line: Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and New York . Richard Henry Lee was instructed by the Virginia legislature to propose independence, and he did so on June 7, 1776 . On June 11, a committee was created to draft a document explaining the justifications for separation from Britain . After securing enough votes for passage, independence was voted for on July 2 . The Declaration of Independence was drafted largely by Thomas Jefferson and presented by the committee; it was unanimously adopted by the entire Congress on July 4, and each of the colonies became independent and sovereign . The next step was to form a union to facilitate international relations and alliances . </P> <P> The Second Continental Congress approved the "Articles of Confederation" for ratification by the states on November 15, 1777; the Congress immediately began operating under the Articles' terms, providing a structure of shared sovereignty during prosecution of the war and facilitating international relations and alliances with France and Spain . The articles were ratified on March 1, 1781 . At that point, the Continental Congress was dissolved and a new government of the United States in Congress Assembled took its place on the following day, with Samuel Huntington as presiding officer . </P>

What document marked the official beginning of the american revolution