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Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta
ID: In 1215, a group of fearful barons wrote a document called the Magna Carta which was intended to grant the people the right to their life, liberty, and property. They then forced the king of England, King Kohn to it. SIG: The significance of this event was that the document granted everone rights, not only the priveled people. It also took away power from the king, since he was ruling a monarchy at the time. -
Mayflower Compact
ID: On November 11, 1620, the first government document was wrtten in America by the colonists. It stated that the colonists were free from the British empire, and were able to practice any religion they wanted. SIg: The significance of this event was that it started the foundation for the people trying to get freedom from the British. This also gave the colonists more freedom then they had been able to obtain in Great Britian. -
Petition of Rights
ID: In 1628, the Parlament of Rishts was signed, giving more freedom to the Americans. This granted them the right of lawful judgement by peers and the right to land. SIG: The significance of this event was that it gave the Americans more freedom, and took power from the British. -
Navigation Act
ID: In 1651, Great Britian passed the Navigation Act, which restricted the colonies from trading with any other countries but it. This bill also raised the cost of merchandise, shipping, and taxes. SIG: The significance of this event was that it showed that the colonies where still under British power. This act also kept the colonies from growing economically, and kept them from making alliances with other contries because they were sealed off from everyone but Britian. -
English Bill of Rights
On December 16, 1689 the English Bill of Rights was passed, which allowed the freedom of speech and the right to bear arms. SIG: The significance of this event was that it gave more freedom to the colonies and gave equal rights to all Americans. -
Proclamation of 1763
ID: On October 7, 1763, King George declared that the colonies would no longer be able to move west. This was passed after the French and Indian War, so that another massacre would not breakout again. SIG: The significance of this event was that it made the colonies mad since Great Britian was not allowing them to move west, where lots of products and goods were located. Not allowing them to move west meant that Great Britian owned all that land and power. -
Sugar Act
ID: On April 5, 1764, Great Britian passed the Sugar Act which caused the American colonists to become very angry. This law made sugar and molasses very expensive, and the tax collected from the sale of the seasonings went to pay off British debt. SIG: The significance of this event was that it angered the colonists and fueled the anger that would soon bring many fights and wars between America and Great Britian -
Stamp Act
ID: In 1765, the Stamp Act was passed which required a tax on all legal documents, lincences, and newspapers. The money that the colonists paid for the taxes went to pay the debt the British governmen had developed from the British and Indian War. SIG: The significance of this event was that it was considered unfair since the Americans where "taxed without representation" -
Boston Tea Party
ID: On December 16, 1773, the colonistd took action against the high British taxes. They attacked three cargo ships and poured all the tons of tea on the boats overboard. This angered the British, but they did not change the taxes in the slightest bit. SIG: The significance of this event was that it proved that the colonists were able to rebel and stand up to the British gvernment. -
Coercive Acts
ID: In 1774, Great Britian passed the Coercive Acts, which included several new laws to punish the colonies for what happened at the Boston Tea Party. SIG: The significance of this event is that it cause the First Continental Congress which later led to boycotting all British goods and seperating from Great Britian altogether, -
First Continental Congress
ID: On September 5, 1774, the members of the thirteen colonists got together to discuss the Coercive Acts and to start the boycott off all British goods. SIG: The significance of this event was to make the British realize that the colonies were not going to put up with the taxes anymore, and that they had enough resources to sustain themselves. This was also meant to gain control of the colonies and help seperate from Great Britian. -
First Shots Fired at Lexington and Concord
ID: On April 19, 1775 marked the first shots of the Revolutionary War. Also known as 'the shot heard around the world", colonists joined together to help fight the British to get their freedom. SIG: The significance of this event was that it started something that had never happened before, people fighting for their freedom and land. It also showed how true the colonists were to their land and they were willing to do anything to protect it. -
Second Continental Congress
ID: On May 10, 1775, at the beginning of the Revolutionary War, the thirteen colonies got together to put together defense against the British. SIG: The significance of this event is that it was the start of the government, and that it helped us win the war because the leaders organized help t finght the British. -
Declaration of Independence
ID: On July 4, 1776 all 13 colonies signed and passed a document that stated why they wanted to be their own nation and all the previous faults of the king. All the previous fights and wars led up to this and marked the end of the British ruling and controlling America. SIG: The significance of this event was that it marked the end to all control the British had on the colonies and gave natural rights to everyone living in the colonies.
