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Jun 6, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta or "Great Charter" limited the King's power and became one of the most influential written laws. King John (England) signed this after he was demanded to do so. It granted certain civil rights and liberties to all freemen. One right was the right to a jury of one's peers. -
Jamestown settled
Jamestown, Virginia was the first succesful colony settled by the Virginia Company of London as a Joint-stock company. Jamestown did not have the best of luck becoming settled but the location on the James River helped alot. -
Mayflower Compact written
The Mayflower Compact was written to form a politcal body. All white males aboard the Mayflower had to sign it to assure "just and equal Laws...for the general good of the Colony." It was an early example of a social contract theory in America when they landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts and founded the state of Massachusetts. -
Petition of Right
The Petition of Right was part of the British constitution and written during a power struggle between the monarch and Parliament. When King Charles I needed money and didn't ask Parliament, Parliament responded with this document stating that taxes could only be raised with the consent of Parliament. It also gave English subjects other rights- prohibition of quartering soldiers and the right to habeas corpus. -
English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights was the cornerstone of the British constitution and was written during a power struggle between the monarch and Parliament.This declared two principles that have shaped America: Rule of law (the rule of law is the foundation of legitimate government) and Representative government. -
Albany Plan of Union
The Albany Plan of Union was drafted by Benjamin Franklin and stated that each colonial legislature would elect delegates to an American continental assembly presided over by a royal governor. Franklin wanted to unite the colonies during the French and Indian War. This decreased British power while increasing America's strong government. -
Stamp Act
The British raised taxes as they took control of American trade during the Stamp Act. This act introduced a tax on all official papers including newspapers and magazines. -
Boston Massacre
A drunken group of colonist harassed/threatened British soldiers as they guarded a tax collector's office in Boston. The British killed 5 men. This led to the belief of Americans that the British government would use military force in order to stay in control. -
Boston Tea Party
Enraged by the 1773 Tea Act, which taxed the colonists, a group of Americans dressed as Mohawk Indians threw thousands of dollars of tea overboard ships in the Boston Harbor. This act of rebellion led the British government to establish the Intolerable acts. -
Intolerable Acts
In response to the Boston Tea Party, the British closed the Boston Harbor for trade. It also altered the Massachusetts charter by limiting town meetings and weakening the courts as the royal governor and British troops' power increased. The Intolerable Acts were known to the British as the Punitive Acts. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was held in Philadelphia from September 5 to October 26, 1774. Colonial delegates met to represent the interests of the colonist and protest against British rule. This Congress drafted the Articles of Association, planning for a boycott of British goods. It also set foot for the Second Continental Congress. -
American Revolution begins
700 British troops marched to Concord, Massachusetts to try to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock. Paul Revere and William Dawes warned the colonists. The war started with "the shot heard round the world" in Lexington and Concord between 75 Minutemen and the troops. The American Revolution was fought between American Colonists and allies against Great Britain to gain the America's freedom. It lasted till 1783. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress declared independece from Britian. The met after the start of the Revolutionary War and organized the Continental Army (George Washington as head), adopted the Articles of Confederation, and drafted the Declaration of Independence. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence announced the separeation of America from the British Crown and the formation of the United States of America. All reasons were listed and explained, included "a lond Train of Abuses" and their natural rights which were being harmed. It was passed in Congress on July 2 but issued on July 4, know as the U.S.A.'s Independence Day. -
Articles of Confederation
The United State's First Constitution, adopted in 1777, but did not go into effect until 1781. Leaving most of the power in the state's hands, it established a national legislature and Continental Congress while uniting the 13 colonies. It stayed in effect until 1789. -
Shays' Rebellion
Daniel Shays led a large group of farmers from Massachusetts called the Regulators who sought to recieve their money promised to them for fighting in the Revolutionary War. They failed to capture the Springfield arsenal but strenghened views of the Americans that they needed a stronger national governement. -
Philadelphia Convention
The Philadelphia Convention also know as the Constitutional Convention lasted from May to September in 1787. Held in Philadelphia, the U.S. Constitution was written. -
Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention is also know as the Philadelphia Convention which lasted from May to September in 1787. Held in Philadelphia, the U.S. Constitution was written. -
Connecticut Compromise
The Connecticut Compromise (Great Compromise) was addressed by Roger Sherman and Oliver Sherman during the Philadelphia Convention. It stated: the Senate would have equal representation, the House of Representatives would have proportional representation, slaves counted at 3/5 of a person, and the House would deal with taxes and government spending. Each side gained a little as it was passed by a single vote.
