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Feb 1, 1215
Magna Carta
It was the royal character of political rights given to rebellious English Barons by King John in 1215. -
Jamestown is Settled
A village on the James river in Virginia. It was the sight of the first permanent settlement in America. -
Mayflower Compact is Written
First governing document of Plymouth colony written by the colonists. The document insured peace between the colonists. -
Petition of Right
Major English constitutional document that sets out liberties of the subject that the King is prohibited from infringing. Produced by the English Parliament. -
English Bill of Rights
A document written by Parliament, agreed upon by William and Mary of England in 1689. It was designed to prevent abusive power by English monarchs. This formed the basis for much an American government and politics today. -
Albany Plan of Union
Plan proposed by Ben Franklin in 1754 that aimed to unite the 13 colonies for trade. Also for military and other purposes. The plan was turned down by the colonies and crown. -
Stamp Act
This was a direct tax imposed by the British Parliament specifically on the colonies of British America. The act required that many printed materials in the colonies be produced on stamped paper produced in London and carrying an embossed revenue stamp. These printed materials were legal documents, magazines, newspapers and many other types of paper used throughout the colonies. -
Boston Massacre
This was an incident that led to the deaths of five civilians at the hands of British redcoats on March 5, 1770, the legal aftermath of which helped spark the rebellion in some of the British American colonies, which culminated in the American Revolutionary War. -
Boston Tea Party
A group of men, disguised as native Americans, boarded three tea ships in Boston Harbor. They broke open the chests and dumped the ships cargo into the Harbor to protest British control of tea trade. -
Intolerable Acts
A series of laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 relating to Britain's colonies in North America. The acts triggered outrage and resistance in the Thirteen Colonies that later became the United States, and were important developments in the growth of the American Revolution. -
First Continental Congress
A convention of delegates from twelve of the thirteen North American colonies that met on September 5, 1774, at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, early in the American Revolution. It was called in response to the passage of the Intolerable Acts by the British Parliament. The Intolerable Acts had punished Boston for the Boston Tea Party. -
American Revolution Begins
A war between America and the British government, fighting for freedom from England. The war was cause by many factors including the Stamp Act, Intolerable Acts, and the Boston Massacre. -
Second Continental Congress
Convention of delegates from the 13 colonies that met to discuss independence and urge the colonial assemblies to establish independent governments. Came after the First Continental Congress. -
Declaration of Independence
A declaration created by American colonists declaring independence from England and its entirety. One of, if not the most famous documents in the history of America. -
Articles of Confederation
A written agreement, radified in 1781 by the 13 original states. It provided a legal symbol of their union by giving the central government no coercive power over the states or their citizens. -
Shays Rebellion
Named after Daniel Shays, a veteran of the American Revolution. Was an armed uprising in central and western Massachusetts. -
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Shay's Rebellion
An armed uprising in the central and western Massachusetts. Named after Daniel Shays, a veteran of the American revolution. -
Philidelphia Convention
A convention that took place to address problems in governing the United States. It took place from May 25 to September 17, 1787 -
Constitutional Convention
A convention held by the founding fathers to ratify the constitution of the United States. Much like the Philidelphia Convention. -
Connecticut Compromise
An agreement between large and small states, reached during the Philidelphia Convention of 1787 that in part defined the legislative structure and representation that each state would have under the United States Constitution.
