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Jun 15, 1215
The Magna Carta
Souce2The Magna Carta was a document written by barons who wanted to protect their rights against a corrupt or tyrant king. This helped inspire American government, because it was declaring that a government leader did not have supreme power, and citizens had the right to liberties and freedoms that could not be interfered with. <a href="http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/magna_carta/" target="_blank">Source1</a> -
The Creation of the Thirteen Colonies
The 13 colonies were governed by the british monarchy, who also acted as trade partners and allies. All of the colonies besides Jamestown were formed my pilgrims who migrated from britian.
<a href="http://www.revolutionary-war.net/13-colonies.html" target="_blank">Source1</a> <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/trishtabler/the-thirteen-colonies" target="_blank">Source2</a> -
The Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was an agreement between the settlers of the Mayflower. Everyone who signed the contract promised to abide by the new government's laws in exchange for shared protection. <a href="http://americanhistory.about.com/od/colonialamerica/a/may_compact.htm" target="_blank">Source1</a> <a href="http://www.pilgrimhall.org/compact.htm" target="_blank">Source2</a> -
Mayflower lands, immigration soon begins
Early settlers came to the "New Land" to start a new life, to have religious freedom, and have a chance to startup in a brand new economy. Other immigrants migrated to the U.S. to get away from a feudal or monarch run government.
<a href="http://www.rapidimmigration.com/1_eng_immigration_history.html" target="_blank">Source 1</a>
<a href="http://www.history.com/topics/united-states-immigration-to-1965" target="_blank">Source2</a> -
Petition of Right
Source2Source1The House of Commons gatherd it's oppositions in a petition that denounced the Force Loan, imprisonment without cause, and martial law. The house of commons sent the petition to the House of Lords. Many in the House of Lords expressed doubts about the petition's denouncement of imprisonment without cause. The petition was brought before the king, and he tried to express good intetntions to the House of Commons, but the house just continuted political attacks against him. -
English Bill of Rights
Source1A sort of precursor to the constitution, weakened the power of the English sovereign, it was written as an act of Parliament. The bill asserted that Englishmen had undeniable civil and political rights, it banned Christians from the throne, and rulers had to swear an oath to remain Protestant. Monarchs could not create courts or be a judge themself without the consent of Parliament. The bill inspired settlers in America because it balanced the power between the Royalty and the parliamentry. -
Albany Plan of Union
Northern colonial delegates and representatives from 6 Iroquois Nations met in Albany, New York. They theorized a plan of union, drafted by Ben Franklin, which would allow colonial legistlature to elect delegates as representatives in an American continental assembly watched over by a royal governer.<a href='http://www.constitution.org/bcp/albany.htm' target="_blank" >Source1</a>
<a href='http://history.state.gov/milestones/1750-1775/AlbanyPlan' target="_blank">Source2</a> -
The Stamp Act
An act which would require a stamp be placed on parchment and paper, serving as a way to tax the colonies to pay off the massive debt that followed the Seven Years War. <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/stampact.htm" target="_blank">Source1</a> <a href="http://www.history.org/history/teaching/tchcrsta.cfm" target="_blank">Source2</a> -
the Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was the shooting of 5 colonists by british soldiers that were in Massachusettes to impose the taxes created by the Townshend acts. The colonists were protesting and throwing snowballs, the tension escolated, and the british fired at the colonists, killing 5 and wounding others. <a href="http://www.bostonmassacre.net/plot/detailed1.htm" target="_blank">Source1</a> <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/massacre.htm" target="_blank">Source2</a> -
The Tea Act and the Boston Tea Party
The Tea Act was an act approved by the british government, that would put a tax on tea exported to the colonies. The colonists retorted by disguising themselves as native americans, seized and dumped the tea into the harbor to protest the act.
<a href="http://www.history.com/topics/boston-tea-party" target="_blank">Source1</a> <a href="http://www.boston-tea-party.org/" target="_blank">Source2</a> -
First Continental Congress
Source2Source1 A meeting of delegates elected and sent by every state (excluding Georgia) to meet at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia. There was no clear goal of the meeting, but it was agreed that the King and Parliament must understand the burdens of the colonies, and this congress was to spread word not to only the colonies, but also the rest of the world. -
The American Revolution
Souce2Source1The American Revolution was an anti-british freedom movement turned war that erupted in the mid months of 1775. The revolution was sparked by the raising taxes on imported goods, and the Boston Massacre; where British soldiers fired their muskets at colonists throwing snowballs, the shots killed 5 and injured others. The revolution's goal was to be recognized by the British and the rest of the world, as an individual, self governing state. The revolution won, and declared seperation from Britian -
Second Continental Congress
Source2Source1A Contienental Army was created, George Washington was comissioned to be it's commander. Congress was slowly evolving into it's own government, setting up delegates for request of forigen aid in the case the British army is able to overpower the Continental army. The Ollive Branch Petition was written, and sent to the king; He ignored it, and declared the colonies were in a state of rebellion. -
Articles of Confederation
Source2The first constituion of the united states, the articles created a loose confederation between the thirteen states with a small and weak continental government, with most of the power resting with the states. The need for a stronger central government was apparrent, which lead to the holding of the constitutional convention. <a href="http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/articles.html" target="_blank">Source1</a> -
Mount Vernon Compact
Source2Source1Comissions met at Mount Vernon to discuss fishing rights and regulation of commerce in the Chesapeake Bay. This resulted in the Compact of 1785, a mutually binding agreement between Maryland and Virginia, and both states declared that their waterways would be "forever considered as a common Highway Free for Use and Navigation of any vessel belonging" -
Annapolis
A convention called to discuss making changes to the Articles of Confederation to make the union stronger. Alexander Hamiltion sent and address to each state, asking them to send delegates to Philidelphia in 1787.
<a href="http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0804110.html" target="_blank">Source1</a>
<a href="http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/v1ch6s2.html" target="_blank">Source2</a> -
The Commerce and Slave trade compromise
The Commerce and Slave trade compromise was an agreement that benefitted slave traders, agreeing that congress would not tax goods exporting out of any state, nor would they interfere with the slave trade. <a href="http://americanhistory.about.com/od/usconstitution/p/constitutional_convention.htm" target="_blank">Source1</a> <a href="http://americanhistory.about.com/od/usconstitution/tp/compromises-of-the-constitutional-convention.htm" target="_blank">Source2</a> -
The 1787 Constitutional Convention
Souce2Source1The americans knew some things about the Articles of Confederation needed to be adjusted, so the delegates met in the Pensylvania State House. Eventually an agreement was made on the the Connecticut Compromise, which would create a strong, central government, with represenatives in the house would depened on a state's population, while each state was guarenteed two represenatives in the senate. -
The Virginia Plan
Souce2Another plan proposed at the constitutional converntion, outlined a government made of three branches with checks and balances, 2 houses, the first with elected officials with a 3-year term, and second with delegates elected by the legislature for 7-year terms, both houses would also use population to base dividing of seats among the states. <a href="http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=7" target="_blank">Source1</a> -
the New Jersey Plan
The New Jersey Plan was an alternative the the Virginia Plan, it would limit states to one congressional vote, and would destroy plans for a strong central government, not different from the Articles of Confederation. <a href="http://myloc.gov/Exhibitions/creatingtheus/Constitution/Ratification/ExhibitObjects/TheNewJerseyPlan.aspx" target="_blank">Source1</a> <a href="http://www.usconstitution.net/plan_nj.html" target="_blank">Source2</a> -
The Conneticut compromise
A proposal that would balance out legislatural voting, each state would get an amount of house repesentatives based on the state's population, but each state would also get 2 senate represenatives, regardless of population. <a href="http://www.jud.ct.gov/lawlib/history/sherman.htm" target="_blank">Source1</a> <a href="http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h371.html" target="_blank">Source2</a> -
Ratification of the Constitution; Federalists v.s. Anti-Federalists
Before the constitution became law and order, it went through quite a bit of scruitiny. Congress debated wether to keep the constitution or not, as it was originally not supposed to be a new form of government, just a revision of the Articles of Confederation, but they decided to go forward and ask for a ratification convention for each state. Anti-Federalists argued that the delegates had all been born into privledged families, and the constitution would mainly support the high-class. -
The Constitution goes into effect
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." - Amendment 4 -
end of the Revolutionary war and the critical period of the 1780's
Source2As America grew, problems arose with the current law document, the Articles of Confederation. the Articles were littered with weaknesses; A state could only have 1 vote in congress, congress could not impose taxes, there was no executive branch to enforce congressional laws, amendments required a unanimous vote, and laws required a 9/13 majority to pass. <a href="http://americanhistory.about.com/od/governmentandpolitics/f/articles_of_confederation_fails.htm" target="_blank">Source1</a> -
The 3/5 Compromise
The 3/5 compromise was an agreement that in a state's population, a single slave would count for 3/5 of a man for purposes of taxation and house representation.
<a href="http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=163" target="_blank">Souce1</a> <a href="http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0215469/compromises.htm" target="_blank">Souce2</a>
