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Jan 31, 1215
Magna Carta
Some concepts in the Magna Carta such as trial processes by the jury and protection of taking life, liberty and property. These concepts were what we used and still use today. -
Mayflower Compact
This was very important to the U.S. because this is the very first step they took form being separated from the British government. -
Petition of Rights
The Petition of Rights took away all unfair taxes that king Charles I was instating on the public. There were four main rules to the petition of rights, no taxes may be enforced without parliaments consent, no one can be imprisoned without a reasonable cause, no soldiers may be executed by the public, and the military may not be used in times of peace. This took absolute power away from the king and gave some of it to the parliament. -
Navigation Act
The Navigation Acts were a series of laws that restrict al foreign trading between England and the colonies. This was because the British wanted to cut all ties to the foreign countries with the Colonies. All English trade had to be carried in English vessels. These acts made British’s trade basis for over 200 years. -
Proclamation of 1763
This enraged the colonists because they knew that the proclamation meant that the British wanted to keep them along the coast so they were easy to keep tabs on. They had said that the reason for the proclamation was to insure the Indians that they weren’t going to take their land. But they all knew it was a lie and the colonies were mad again by the British. -
Sugar Act
This act made the colonies worried. They were concerned about the British Parliament’s intentions. This showed that the Parliament just wanted their money and they didn’t care about the people. This also played a huge role in the beginning of the American Revolution. -
Stamp Act
This was the first time all the colonies came together as one to oppose the British Government after the Stamp Act was passed. -
Boston Tea Party
This is significant because this is the beginning of the colonies standing up the British government. This also started the beginning of protests. About standing up to a greater power to show your own opinion of what you believe is right. -
Coercive Acts
These acts started a chain reaction that had all thirteen colonies standing up to the British government. This also is a key ingredient to the beginning of the American Revolution. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was when 12 of the 13 representatives from the thirteen colonies met to disgust a possible boycott of British trade. Without this first congress we wouldn’t have had the second congress and had the American Revolution. -
First Shots Fired at Lexington and Concord
This is very important because if these shots weren’t fired we wouldn’t have stood up against the British Government we would have never won the war and become America. This means we wouldn’t have been here. -
Second Continental Congress
This was huge for the colonies because they actually stood up the British and they made a plan to do it. They declared their independence from the British soon after this and it all started at the Second Continental Congress. -
Declaration of Independence
This document stated the thirteen colonies were at war with Britain and they were now independent states. The Declaration stated why we deserve our independence. It was actually written by Thomas Jefferson but it was created by 5 delegates. This declared America’s independence.
