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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was the first document that was forced onto an English king , in this case it was King John, by a group of subjects that insured the people's priviledges. It's important because it limited the king's power over his country. People had to live by the law of the land and not the king's absolute rule. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was the first governing document of Plymoth County. This was signed by the pilgrims who sailed accross the Atlantic Ocean in the Mayflower. They were seeking freedom of religion, which was the reason most of the people came to America. It also started the idea of separating from British rule. -
Petition of Rights
The Peition of Rights was a document that set limits on the king's power. It stated that the king was subject to the laws of the land. It demanded that the king no longer inprison or punish any person but by the lawful judgement of his peers or by the law of the land. I also insisted that the king not impose rule by military in a time of peace. -
Navigation Act
The Navigation Act caused resentment in the colonies towards Britain because it limited trade to other countries. It was a contributing factor in the American Revolution because it restricted America to trade with countries other than Britain, giving England the upperhand. Britain wanted the American colonies to stay dependent and connected to them. -
English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights emphasizes freedom of speech, the right to bear arms under the limits of the law, the right to petition the monarch without fear of retribution, and the rights to regular elections. These ideas reflected the thinking of John Locke, the philosopher. It placed major restrictions on the ruling government in England. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was when King George III said that the colonies couldn't extend their borders west. The king of England wanted to stay on good terms with the Native Americans. This act made the colonials want to rebel and do the opposite of what the king wanted. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was an indirect tax on the colonies that irritated them. They were angered that a good portion of it went towards the British army during the seven year war. They started to smuggle molasses, which was risky and dangerous. People also agreed to stop purchasing British luxery imports and increase colonial manufacturing. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was a direct tax imposed on the British colonies. This outraged the people in America and it became the first joint colonial response to any British measure. This act caused street protests and drastic measures to be taken by Americans. It angered and united the people like never before and they learned that if they stand together on things that they could convince the British to back down. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a direct action towards the British. The colonists were angry and refused to return three shiploads of taxed tea and they dumped all of it into the harbor. A group of 30-130 men loaded onto the ships and dumped out all 342 chests. This was a key step in starting the American Revolution towards independence. -
Coercive Act
The four Coercive Acts were issued in response to the Boston Tea Party. The acts triggered outrage and resisitence in the American colonies. The British parliament hoped that this would stop all resistence in the colonies and restore their complete authority. This did not, however, please the colonists and they, in turn, said that it was a violation of their rights. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a gathering of representatives from twelve of the thirteen colonies that was called in response to the coercive acts. The coercive acts were what pushed for the Boston Tea Party. They met to discuss boycotting British trade, and petitioning King George for redress of a list of their grievances. They met at Carpenters Hall (picture). -
First shots fired at Lexington and Concord
The first battles at Lexington and Concord marked the very beginning of the Revolutionary War. It was the first military engagements between British soldiers and colonists. It marked the outbreak of open-armed conflicts and was one of the most imprtant steps towards independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was a meeting of all thirteen colonies represented by delegates right after the Revolutionary war began. The group managed the colonial war effort and brainstormed more ways to move towards independence. This same group of men also adopted the Declaration of Independence. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was the document adopted by the continental congress that announced that the thirteen colonies, that were previously at war with Great Britain, are now independent from the British Empire. It was mainly written by Thomas Jefferson. Congress voted and approved the statement on July 2 but wrote it and made it official on July 4, which made it the birthday of the country: Independence Day.