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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
Magna Carta is a document that King John of England was forced to sign. It reduced the power he held as the King of England and allowed the formation of a powerful parliament. It became the basis for English citizen's rights. Magna Carta was a collection of 37 English laws. -
Petition of Right
It was established by King Charles the first. It stated four principle. The Petitions were supposed to be a a safegaurd but they were soon violated by King Charles himself. -
English Bill of Rights
It was enacted by the English Parliament and signed into law by King William the Third. This bill is one of the fundamental documents of English constitutional law, and marks a fundamental milestone in the progression of English society from a nation of subjects under the plenary authority of a monarch to a nation of free citizens with inalienable rights. This bill was established because of King James the Second abuse of power during his reign. -
Albany Plan of Union
The Albany Plan of Union was a plan to place the British North American colonies under a more centralized government. This plan was adopted by representatives from seven of the British North American colonies. Even though it was never carried out, but it was the first important plan to concive of the colonies as a collective whole united under one government. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a street fight between a "patriot" mob, and a squad of British soldiers.The mob was throwing snowballs, sticks, and stones when the soldiers were told to fire into the mob.There were three killed on the spot, eight wounded and later on two of the eight died. This event called for a town meeting demanding the removal of the British and the trial of Captain Preston and his men for murder. The Boston Massacre was a signal event leading to the Revolutionary War. -
Boston Tea Party
Boston Tea Party is when the colonists threw tea into the Boston Harbor. The cause of this action was due to the colonists not liking the British tea taxes. After this the Parliment passed the Intolerable Acts law as punishment for the Boston Tea Party. -
First Continental Congress
First Continental Congress is when delegates from all thirteen colonies met to discuss respones to increased British oppression. This is when they formally declared that colonists should have the same rights as Englishmen. They also agreed to form the Continental Association. The Continental Association called for the suspension of trade with Great Britain. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress met after the Battles of Lexington and Concord. During the meeting they decided to completely break away from Great Britain. They also decided to form an army called American Continental Army. -
Declaration of Independence
The Delcaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson. It stated the U.S. independence from Great Britian. -
Articles of Condereration
The Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation on November 15, 1777. Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of the United States. The Articles created a loose confederation of sovereign states and a weak central government, leaving most of the power with the state goverments. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion was the post-Revolutionary clash between the New England farmers and merchants that tested the precarious institutions of the new republic, threatened to plunge the "disunited states" into a civil war. This rebellion started in Massachusetts in 1786 and spread throughout the other states. This was the fiercest outbreak of discontent in the early republic. -
Philadelphia Convention
Philadelphia Convention was a meeting held by delagates from the 13 states that then comprised the United States. During the meeting they formed a new plan of government, which was outlined in the newly-drafted U.S. Constitution. The Constitution strengthened the federal government and remains the document the defines the U.S. law to this day. -
Virigina Plan
The plan traced the broad outlines of what would become the U.S. Constitution. It described two houses that would both use population as a basis for dividing seats among the states. James Maddision wrote the Viriginia Plan. -
New Jersey Plan
The New Jersey Plan was a plan that was proposed by the Constitutional Convention. It provided for a single legislative house with equal representation for each state.
