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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
King John was the first English Sovereign to be excommunicated due to his lack of success. He was defeated by France in 1213 which lowered his reputation even more and was worsened by his demand of money paid for military service and his feud with the Pope. King John was eventually pressured to sign the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta was the first written constitution in European history and it mostly gave power to the elite class. It was revised 3 more times after. -
Jamestown Settled
104 English men and women sailed to Virginia. They settled in what they named Jamestown. This was the first permanent English settlement in North America. They chose the specific land because of its proximity to deep water and its inland to keep safe from Spanish attack. -
Mayflower Compact Written
This was signed on their ship before arriving in Plymouth, Massachusetts. This was the first framework for government in the U.S. 41 men signed this document, including 2 indentured servants. The purpose was that the people signed into the idea of passing just and equal laws. -
Petition of Right
This constitutional document sets protections for individuals against the state. This is suppose to be similar to the Bill of Rights and the Magna Carta. Sir Edward Coke initiated the Petition and was due to King Charles actions. -
English Bill of Rights
This gave parliament power over the monarchy. It was signed by William 3 and Mary 2. Some say that it influenced the U.S bill of rights but it also set up for a constitutional monarchy in England. This includes a list of King Jame's mistakes and issues along with 13 articles that outlined freedom. -
Albany Plan of Union
This plan was never carried out but it was adopted by seven of the British North American colonies. The proposal was first important one to say the colonies should be under one government. This was adopted during the Albany Congress. They also wanted this because they wanted a treaty for colonial-Indian relations policy. -
Stamp Act
This act came after the seven years war as Britain was in debt. The act imposed a tax on paper documents in the colonies. It was the first tax act to be directly on the American colonies. The colonies resisted this act and 10 years later, they rebelled. -
Boston Massacre
There was a street brawl between colonists and a British soldier. This quickly escalated into a riot that was quite deadly. This riot was fueled by the on going tensions between the colonists and Britain after the different acts imposed on the colonies. A man named Preston and the British soldiers involved were sent to trial 7 months later. John Adams happened to be his lawyer. He was not found guilty. -
Boston Tea Party
This was a political protest by the American colonies against Britain. Britain had just imposed the taxation without representation and this was due to Britain's large debt. The colonies did not want to buy tea from Britain so they ended up smuggling it in from India. Britain found out and decided to allow India to ship it to them but taxed it before it could reach the ports. The night of the Boston Tea Party, a bunch of men went onto a ship of tea and threw 342 chests into the water. -
Intolerable Acts
These were acts imposed by the British Parliament after the Boston Tea Party and to punish the colonies for their defiance of taxation. The Boston port act closed down Boston ports until tea debt was paid. The Massachusetts government act took more power away from the colonists and gave to the British governor. The Administration of Justice Act allowed Britain to bring capital trials to Britain. The Quartering Act said that the colonies had to provide barracks to British soldiers. -
First Continental Congress
This was organized for colonial resistance to the British acts imposed on them. 56 delegates from the 13 colonies were in attendance. The main objective was to gain support for the resistance against the British acts. -
American Revolution Begins
This began with British military and Minutemen of the colonies exchanging gunfire in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts. -
Second Continental Congress
This resulted in the creation of the declaration of independence along with the Articles of Confederation. It was again attended by the delegates of the 13 colonies. This meeting represented normal functions of government as they helped appoint those in the army and issue currency. -
Declaration of Independence
This was created during the second continental congress and was made due to America seeking independence from Britain. It had 3 major ideas. People have the rights of life, liberty, and pursuit. All men are created equal. Individuals have a civil duty to defend these. Thomas Jefferson was the one to draft the Declaration. -
Articles of Confederation
This was the first written constitution for the U.S. The articles said that the states were to stay sovereign and independent. These articles allowed congress to make alliances and treaties but also kept track of coins and army forces. The articles did not allow much power to other parts of government for them to control commerce and taxes. -
Shay's Rebellion
The rebellion was to prevent the trial and imprisonment of citizens in debt. This occurred in western Massachusetts and was in opposition to high taxes and the economic conditions. This resulted in Massachusetts setting laws to aid the economic conditions. -
Philadelphia Convention
This convention took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and its main purpose was to help decide how America was going to be governed. The original plan was to revise the Articles of Confederation. 55 delegates had attended the meeting, while only 39 signed the constitution written. -
Connecticut Compromise
This proposed a dual system of representation. This being the house of representatives and the senate. It said that the house would depend on the states population while the senate would have the same number of seats no matter the state. This was proposed by Oliver Ellsworth and Roger Sherman.
