-
Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta limited and put certain restrictions on the powers of the ruler, which at the time was King John of England. It was not put into effect until the Civil War and even today, still influnces many constitutional documents, including the US Constitution. -
Jamestown
A group of men settled on the banks of Virginia's James River, sponsored by the Virginia Company of London, wanting to make a profit from the new resources.The community suffered in the beginning but managed to becoming America's first permanent English colony. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was the first document of Plymouth Colony that established a law for the Pilgrims.They were looking for a place to practice Christianity on their own and not by force from the English Church. -
Petition of Right
The Petition of Right was an English constitutional document forced the king to abide by the laws and said he was not exempt from them. In the US Constituion today, the Petition's ban on the lodging of troops is shown in the Third Amendment. -
English Bill of Rights
Also known as just the Bill of Rights, William and Mary of England presented it, stating certain rights of citizens. Some rights include arms of defense and theright to petition the monarch. The Bill of Rights is still in effect today. -
Albany Plan of Union
Drafted by Ben Franklin during the French and Indian War, the plan called for an election of delegates and a royal governor, attempting to create a union, which the colonists were not ready for. The plan was rejected by both sides and was an inspiration when writing the Articles of Confederation. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was a direct tax imposed by the British Parliament on the British American colonies. It required printed materials, such as legal documents, magazines, newspapers, be made on stamped paper that were produced in London have an embossed revenue stamp. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was when British troops killed five colonists. The massacre occured as a result of all of the taxation stress made by the Townshend Acts. -
Boston Tea Party
A group of men, aka "Sons of Liberty", went to the Boston Harbor dressed up as Mohawk Indians. They boarded three British ships, the Beaver, the Eleanor and the Dartmouth, and dumped forty-five tons of tea into the Boston Harbor. -
First Continental Congress
Representatives from each colony, except Georgia, met in Philadelphia.The congress had three objectives, which were to create a statement of colonial rights, identify British parliaments violation of those rights, and to provide a plan that would convince Britain to restore those rights. -
Intolerable Acts
A series of laws sponsored by British Prime Minister Lord North and enacted in 1774 in response to the Boston Tea Party. The Acts were Impartial Administration of Justice Act, Massachusetts Bay Regulating Act, Boston Port Act, Quartering Act, and finaly the Quebec Act. The acts that were inforced were the worst yet no acts were this harsh that were passed by parliament. -
American Revolution
Began when a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America broke out because the thirteen colonies did not want to be a part of the British Empire. The colonies wanted to rule themselves, creating the United States of America, which is when the British imposed by sending troops, which sparked a war. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was held in Pennsylvania after the American Revoluionary War. It gained more independence and was when the Articles of Confederation were officially adopted by Congress. -
Declaration of Independence
An official document, mostly written by Thomas Jefferson, stating that the thirteen colonies were officially independent and no longer a part of Great Britain. The Declaration is a formal writing describing why Congress voted and decided that the thirteen colonies should become independent. -
Articles of Confederation
The basis of American government today and was the first constitution of the USA. Drafted in 1776 and ratified a year later, not officially ratified until 1781. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion occured as a result of poor farmers who were not able to pay the taxes on their land. It was named after Daniel Shays who was a veteran of the American Revoluion. Failing to pay the debts or taxes, the government either seized their land or threw the owner into jail. -
Philadelphia Convention
The Philadelphia Convention is better known as the Constitutional Convention. It was a discussion about how the United States was to be governed and was intented only to revise the Articles of Confederation. -
Constitutional Convention
Called for to address some of the problems with the United States government after gaining independence from Great Britain.As a result, United States Constitution was made, making it one of the biggest events in the history of the US. -
Connecticut Compromise
Also known as the Great Compromise, it was an agreement between large and small states and showed the representation of each state in the United States Constitution. It had a bicameral legislature, which is now the US Senate and House of Representatives in the US government.
