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Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta
Barons forced King John to sign the Magna Carter at Runnmymede in 1215. John's military was seekinng protection against heavy arbritary acts taking libery,property.
This was important in American history because it protected everyone's simple rights of life, liberty, or property. It also established the principle the power of monarchy was not absolute. -
Mayflower Compact
This was a written agreement composed by a consenous of the new settlers arriving at New Plymouth in November of 1620.
They knew that New World's earlier settlers failed due to lack of government. They hashed out the constant and eventually made compact for their survival. -
Petition of rights
The Petition of Rights demanded that the king cant imprision or otherwise punish any person but by the lawful judgement of his piers, or by the law of the land.
This was important in America's history because the king did not impose martial law in time of peace, or require homes to shelter the kings troops without their consent. -
Navigation Act
Efforts to put the theory of the belief that welath was infinite. Parliament acted to combat the threat of the rapidly growing trade.
This was important to American history because the trade between colonies was conducted only in English or colonial shops. If one nation wanted to get richer, it had to do so at the expense of another nation. -
English Bill of Rights
Rights to fair trial and freedome from excessove bail and from cruel unusual punishment. Required that all parliamentary elections be free.
This was important because it prohibited a standing arym in peactime, except with the consent of Parliament. -
Proclamtaion of 1763
This closed off the frontier to colonial expansion. The king presented the proclamation in order to calm the fears of Indians. The indians felt that the colonists would drive them from their lands as they expanded westward.
This was important because many of the colonies felt that the object was to pen them in along with the Atlantic. -
Stamp Act
Act required the use of stamped paper for legal documents, diplomas, newspapers, almanacs, and playinf cards.
This was important because the stamp proved that the tax was paid. This also supported the British soldiers and protected the American Colonies. -
Sugar Act
Called for tax of six piece per gallon on non-British sugar and molasses imported into the Northern American colonies. This measure had been purposed by sugar growers in the British Indies who wanted Parliaments assitances to force the colonies to buy their produce. not less expensive sugar of the competing spanish and french islands. -
Boston Tea Party
Colonies didnt want to pay the levies that was required by the townsen acts, claiming they had no obligation to pay the taxes that were given from the Parliament in which they had no representation.
This was important because the Paliament reattached the taxes with the exception of a duty on tea. That was a demonstration of Parliaments ability and right to tax the colonies. -
Declaration of Independence
Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, it summarized a philosphy in "self evident truths". Is at once at the nations most cherished symbol liberty and Jefferon's most enduring monument exposed the convictions in the minds and hearts of American people. -
First Continental Congress
Every colony except for Georgia sent deleagtes. Georgia didnt get involded with independence because it had been inflicted with the indians and hoped that a unfled voice would go ttttto them a hearing in London. -
Coerive Acts
Also known as Restraining Acts. The acts that were intoreable were, Quatering Act, Administration of Justice Act, and Massachusetts Government Act.
This was important because the legislation's purpose was to restore order in Massachusettings, following the Boston Tea Party, and any other acts of defiance. -
First Shots at Lexington and Concord
The first shots between American and British Troops. Each of the sides opened fire, and then the Americans were forced to withdraw. They slowed the British in advance.
This was important because by the time the Redcoats got to Concord, the Americans were waiting for them in force. The weapons depot was saved, and the British were forced to retreat. -
Second Continental Congress
A meeting that included John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Richard Henry Lee, and John Dickinson. Alot of the delegates assumed that the capture between colony and moth country would be healed. Congress lacked the legal authority to govern, but boldly assumed that responsibility contributions. Some of the contributions are military matters, statements of positions, financing the war, independence, opening of dipomatic channels, and legislation.
