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Roots of American Democracy

  • Jun 15, 1215

    Magna Carta/Great Charter

    Magna Carta/Great Charter
    Was a English charter issued in the year June 15,1215. It required King John to proclaim certain liberties. Created the purpose of limiting the power of the monachy and preserving the base of legal right of all free men in England.
  • Jan 26, 1500

    Mercantilism

    Mercantilism
    Was the theory espoused by the Major European powers from roughly 1500 to 1800. Itadvocated that the nation should export more than it importedand accumulate billions to make up the differance.
  • Jamestown Colony

    Jamestown Colony
    On 1607, A group of 103 English men and boys began a settlement on the banks of Virginia's James River. They were sponsed by the Virginia Company, who hoped to make a profit from from the resources of the new world. Women and young girls later joined them. They suffered many hardships but managed to endure. It became Americas first permanent English colony.
  • House of Burgesses

    House of Burgesses
    In Virginia was the first legislature anywhere in the English colonies in America. They first met on July 30,1619 at a church in jamestown. Their first oder of business was to set a minimun price for the sale of tabacco.
  • Mayflower Compact

    Mayflower Compact
    Was a social contract by the forty-one men on the Mayflower. They signed it and agreed to adbide by the new governmet's laws in exchange for shared protection.
  • Plymouth Colony

    Plymouth Colony
    It was the Pilgrims whop estabished Plymouth Colony. They arrived on the ship "Mayflower" on Dec.21, 1620. It was established primarily for religious freedoms and secondarily for finiancial profit.
  • Culpepers Rebellion

    Culpepers Rebellion
    Occured during the 1670 in Posquotait County, NC. It was respond to make to many complains but primarly was a reaction to the Navigation Act. It was led by John Clupeper and Geroge Durant. They imprisened the Deputy governor and other officlas. They convented and ran the colony for 2 years. HE was tired for treason but never punished
  • Glorious Revolution

    Glorious Revolution
    The Glorious Revolution of 1668-1689 replcaed hte reiging King, James ll, with the joint monarchy of his prostand duaghterand her Dutch husband, William of Orange. The British causes of the revolution were as religious as potitical. JAmes agreed to Williams demand to call a "free paliament."
  • Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

    Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
    Was consider the first written constitution in British North America. Became the basic law for the Connecticut colony from 1639 to 1660. Was adpoted Jan.14, 1689 by representatives of the town. Thomas Hooker was a great inspiration for the fundamental orders of Connecticut.
  • English Bill Of Rights

    English Bill Of Rights
    The bill was a precursor to the American Bill of Rights. It set out strict limits on the Royal Family's eagl perroyatives such as Parliaments laws. It limited the right to rise money through taxation to Parliament.
  • Salem Witch Trials

    Salem Witch Trials
    It occured in colonial Mass. between 1692-1693. More than 200 people were accused od practicing witchcraft. twenty were executed. Eventually, the colony amitted that the trilas were a mistake and compensated the familes of those who were convicted. The first trial was held Jun.2, 1692
  • First Great Awakening

    First Great Awakening
    Even though it was a series of religious revivals that swept over the colonies , it resulted in document changes and poltical thoughts. It was started by Johnathan Edwards. It was during the 1730s and 1740s.
  • Albany Plan of Union

    Albany Plan of Union
    BEnjamin Franklin helpg paln the union.He proposed a constitution-like plan that would put all the colonies under one government.The need was justified because of the necessity for defense against the threats and consequences posed by the infamous French and Indian War
  • French and Indian War

    French and Indian War
    Bitish colonist wanted to take over french land in North America, thet wanted to take over the fur trade in the french territory. When conflict flared the Indians divided over who to support. Some fought with the French some with the British. Some Native Americans were afraid that the British woul take thier land if they won.
  • Pontiac Rebellion

    Pontiac Rebellion
    On Aug.1763, an Ottawa Indian chief named Pontiac went to another chiefs along the Ohio River Valley to start a rebellion. He was angrey because the british fur trappers and traders were on their land. The Indians took over the British forst and burned the colonist settlements. King George lll wanted to end the rebellion so he issued a proclamation.
  • Proclamation Line of 1763

    Proclamation Line of 1763
    King Geroge lll issued the royal proclamation. It closed lands north and west of the Appalachion Mountains to settlements. The goal was to put a stop to the conflict between the native Americans. Settlers began to igrnor the Proclamation Line, the colonist werer able to get the line moved further west.
  • Sugar/Revenue Act

    Sugar/Revenue Act
    Also know as suagar act was the first tax to imposed on the colonies by the British. Its purpose was to revise revenue through the colonies. It allowed British officers to try colonists who violated the new duties at a new Vice-Admiralty court in Halifax.
  • Virginia Resolves

    Virginia Resolves
    Patrick Henery at a meeting in Virginia house of Burgesses, proposed 7 resolutions aganist the Stamp Act. Only four resolves were adopted by the House of Burgesses. Though resolution six and seven were never passed by the House, all seven were reported in the colonial press, giving the impression that all passed the Virginia Assembly.
  • Sons Of Liberty

    Sons Of Liberty
    In Boston summer of 1765, a group of shoekeepers and artisans who callecd themselves the Loyal Nine, began the preparing for agitation the Stamp Act. As they grew they became know as Sons of liberty. Their first act took place Aug.14,1765 when Andrew Oliver, a commissioned Distributor of Stamps ,was found hanging in a tree with a large boot with a devil climing out of it.
  • The Stamp Act

    The Stamp Act
    It was passed by the British Parliament. The tax imposed on all American colonists and required them to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used. The money collected was used to help pay the cost of protecting the american frontier.
  • Townshend Act

    Townshend Act
    Charles Townshend persuaded Parliament to pass the Townshend Act, putting a colonial import duty on such things as tea, glass, lead, and pepper.
  • Boston Massacre

    Boston Massacre
    It started when royal troops appeared in MAssachusetts to enforce the heavy tax burdens. It was a street fight beween a patriot mob, throwing snowballs, stones, and sticks at a squad of British soldiers. About 50 citizens attacked a British sentinel
  • Gaspee Incident

    Gaspee Incident
    The Gaspee was a British Royal Navy ship assigned to customs duty. On June 9, 1772 the Gaspee ran aground in Narragansett Bay, near Providence. The next night a wealthy merchant led a group onto the ship. They wounded the lieutenant and set the ship on fire.
  • Tea Act

    Tea Act
    The Tea Act was primarily intended to help struggling East-India Company. The colonist were only allowed to buy tea from India. The Americans saw this Law as yet another means of "taxation without representation." Thier reponse was to refuse to unload the tea from the ships.
  • Boston Tea Party

    Boston Tea Party
    Took place Dec. !6,1773, Colonist threw tea into the Boston Harbor. They were not pleased with the new British Tea tax.
  • Intolerable Act

    Intolerable Act
    Laws that were punishment that Kin George lll put on the colonies. He wanted to punish them for dumping tea into the harbor at the Boston tea party.
  • First Continental Conress

    First Continental Conress
    Was held on Sept.5. 1774 to Oct. 26,1774. It was held because the colonist were very upset about the Intolerable Act abd the taxes. They met in secret, not wanting the British to know that they were meeting. They discusseed unfair treatment from Britian and what the colonist rights should be.
  • Edenton Tea Party

    Edenton Tea Party
    Was one of the earlist organization womens political actions in the U.S. In !774, Penelpe Baker organized 51 women in Edenton,NC. They formed an alliance whole heartedly supported the Americans cause aganist "taxtation without repersentation." The intolerable act caused the women to protest Britians what they saw as unjust laws.
  • Mecklenburg Resolves

    Mecklenburg Resolves
    Was a list of statments reputed to have been introduced to the Mecklenburg Committe of safetly On Mar,20,1775. Was adopted on May 31,1775. The document may have proclaimed that all laws from Parliament are null and void,and the only legislate governmen the colonies was the Constinital Congress. There is no soild copy of there records.
  • Second Continental Congress

    Second Continental Congress
    The members of the Congress met at the state house in Philadelphia. The New England militia were encamped outside of Boston trying to drive the British out of Boston. The Congress establish the milita asthe Continental Army to represent the 13 states. They also elected Geroge Washington as commander in Chief of the Army.
  • Halifax Resolves

    Halifax Resolves
    Was the first offical act by any of the 13 colonies. It called for independence from Great Britian. The staes of North Carolina authorized her delegats to the Continital Congress to vote for independence.
  • Declaration of Independence

    Declaration of Independence
    In 1776, soon after the American Revolutionary War the leaders got together to write a letter to the king. they wanted him to know why they were fighting for their independence. It laid out a lot of new ideas about the rights that all people should have.
    It was signed Aug.2,1776
  • Article of Confederation

    Article of Confederation
    The Contiental Congress wroteit during the Revolutionary War. The Article was written to give the colonies some sense of unified. The article became effective on March 1, 1781 after all 13 states had ratified them.
  • Treaty of Paris

    Treaty of Paris
    On Feb.!783 Geroge lll issued his proclamation of Cessation of Hootilitie culminating in the Peace Treaty of 1873. Signed in Pais Sept. 3, 1783 the agreement formally ended the U.S. war for independence. Representing the U.S. was John Adam, Benjamin Franklin and Jhon Jay all signed the treaty.
  • Land Ordinance of 1785

    Land Ordinance of 1785
    Was passed by the Congress of Confederation/ It was considered one of the most important legislative acts in American history. It established a method for the survey and sale of western lands by thre ferderal government. The ordinance decreeded that the ferderal government wopuld survey the lands into individual township.
  • Shay's Rebllion

    Shay's Rebllion
    Was the post-REvolutioary clash between New England farmers and merchants that tested the precorious institutions of the new republic. It threntened to plunge the "disunit states" into a civil war. It rose in MAss.1786 and spread t the other states.
    Aug.29, 1786-Mar.1787
  • Anti-ferderal papers

    Anti-ferderal papers
    Were a collection of articles written to the ratification of the 1787 United States Constitution, Unlike the ferderalsit papers written to support the Constitution the authors of these articles were not engaaged in a strictly organized project. One of the major points of the article was the danger the Constitution would bring without a statement of individuals rights. Some of the concernes were addressed to the Bills of Rights.
  • Constitutionsl Convention

    Constitutionsl Convention
    Took place May 14 to Sept.17, 1777, in Philadeephia. It addressed probles in governing the United Stated of America.It createda new govenmet instead od fixing the exisiting one. It was intented to revise the Articles of Confederation. The delegates elected Geroge Washigton to preside over the convention.
  • Land Ordinance of 1787

    Land Ordinance of 1787
    Also knows as the Norhtwest Ordinance. Was adoptedon July 13,1787. It was adopted by the Second Continital Congress. It provided a method for admiting new states fromt the territory and listed a bill of right guarented in the territory.
  • Whiskey Rebellion

    Whiskey Rebellion
    It was a protest in the U.S. Famers who sold their grains in the form of whiskey had to pay a nes tax which they strongly resented. The tax was a part of a treasury secretary Alexander Hamiton;s program. It was used to pay off the national debt.
  • Committe of Correspondence

    Committe of Correspondence
    The Committe was fromed throughout the colonies as a means of coordinating axctions aganist Britian. Many were formed by the legislatures of the respective colonies. The members of these organizations represented the leading men of easch colony.