Early US Government

Magna Carta

Jun 15, 1215

Limited King John of England's power.

Jamestown Settled

May 13, 1607

The first successful English settlement in North America.

Mayflower Compact Written

Sep 9, 1620

Established laws for the settlers at New Plymouth.

Petition of Right

Jun 7, 1628

Document prepared by parliament that distinguished unalienable rights of the subjects

English Bill of Rights

Dec 16, 1689

Restated the Declaration of Right in statutory form

Albany Plan of Union

Jul 10, 1754

A plan by Benjamin Franklin to unite the 13 colonies.

Stamp Act

Mar 22, 1765

Taxed all legal documents, some business agreements and nespapers

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

British troops fired on a crowd in Boston killing five.

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

A group of men boarded three tea ships and dumped the tea into Boston Harbor.

American Revolution Begins

Apr 19, 1774

Fighting began amoung colonists and the British.

Intolerable Acts

Apr 22, 1774

New laws that prompted a meeting of the colonies.

First Continental Congress

Sep 5, 1774

Convention of delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies.

Second Continental Congress

May 10, 1775

Convention of delegates from all 13 colonies.

Articles of Confederation

Nov 10, 1777

Plan of government adopted by the Continental Congress.

Declaration of Independence

Jul 4, 1781

announced that the 13 colonies were no longer part of the British empire

Shay's Rebellion

Aug 29, 1786

An armed uprising led by Daniel Shay

Philadelphia Convention

May 25, 1787

addressed problems in governing the US

Connecticut Compromise

Jul 16, 1787

Agreement that congress should be composed of a senate and a house