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Aug 24, 1215
Magna Carta
SIG:The Magna Carta established the principle that the power of the monarchy wasn't absolute. They were incorporated into other documents. English people gained individual rights. -
Mayflower Compact
SIG: The compact became the beginning of the government in the Plymouth Colony. -
The Petition of Rights
SIG: The citizens can live more freely without worrying about prison. The document was the first to limit the power of the king. -
Navigation Act
SIG: Excluded the Dutch from all trade with Britian, since the Netherlands produced very few goods itself. All foreign shipping was banned and the colonies were forbidden from directly exporting to non-English consumers. -
The Bill of Rights
SIG: It created the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution. "Gave freedom of religon, speech, press, assembly, and petition. Right to keep bear arms inorder to maintain a well regulated milita. No quartering soldiers. Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. Right to due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination double jeopardy. Rights of accused people. Freedom from excessive bail, cruel, and unusual punishments. Other rights of the people. Power reserved to the states." -
Proclamation of 1763
SIG: The purpose of the Proclamation of 1763 was the desire to avoid the expense of further war with Native Americans. It created a large amount of resentment amoung the British colonists. This was one of the factors leading to the American Revolutionary War. -
Sugar Act
SIG: The Sugar Act banned importation of rum and French wines. The taxes affected only a certain part of the population, but these affected people expressed their opinion very loud and clear. The taxes were raised without asking permission of the colonists. This was one of the first times in history where colonists wanted a say in how much they were taxed. -
Stamp Act
SIG: The frustrated English people created a diplomatic body called the Stamp Act Congress. The British government repealed the Stamp Act but then passed the Declaratory Act which basically gave the colonists a target for their rage. This event also formed the Sons of Liberty. -
Boston Tea Party
SIG: The British tea was boycotted throughout the colonies. This showed us how far American were willing to proclaim their freedom. -
Coercive/Intolerable Acts
These new acts didn't keep the colonists down they instead made the revolutionary spirt to lots of excitement. Closing Boston's port cost the colony a ton of money. The Regulating Act's purpose was to lessen the impact of the revolution. The Quartering Act made colonists mad when they didn't want soldiers in their homes. The Quebec Act was basically an insult to the Americans since they were denied similar rights that the Quebec people just gained. -
First Continental Congress
SIG: The 56 delegates came together in response to the Intolerable Acts. They also met in secret because they didn't want Great Britain to know that they were united. From these discussions the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Marines Corps were formed. -
Second Continental Congress
SIG: From these discussions the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Marines Corpes were formed. It also created the Continental Army and put George Washington as commander-in-chief. -
First Shots Fired at Lexington and Concord
SIG: The weapons depot was saved and the British were forced to retreat. Paul Revere goes to warn the countryside that "The British are Coming!" -
Declaration of Independence
SIG: The document gave the American colonies independence from Great Britain.
