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1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta or the Great Charter was the document that the people of England forced King John to sign so that they would gain more rights. After signing the Magna Carta everyone would be equal under the law, including the King. This is where the monarchy of England started to lose power. -
Settlement of Jamestown
This was the first permanent English settlement in America. This was an economic venture that's goal was to find riches in the new land. -
The Mayflower Compact
Was the first governing document of the Pilgrims. The Mayflower Compact squashed a rebellion that was starting on the ship before landing in America. -
The Petition of Right
The Petition of Right was composed by the English Parliament and sent to King Charles I. The petition sought the recognition of four concepts: no taxation without consent from Parliament, no imprisonment without cause, no quartering of soldiers on subjects, and no martial law in peace time -
Albany Plan of Union
The Albany Plan of Union was a plan to unite the thirteen colonies into one nation. This was to protect the colonies against the French. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was enacted by the British government to increase taxes on the colonies. The Stamp act required a tax on every piece of printed paper the colonist used. This included, but was not limited to: ship papers, legal documents, licenses, newspapers, and playing cards. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a deadly riot that occurred on King Street in Boston. It began as a riot against American colonist and one British solider, but things soon got out of hand. Then the British opened fire onto the crowd killing five men. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a political protest, protesting the colonies being taxed without representation in the laws that govern them. Three-hundred and forty-two barrels of tea where dumped into the harbor, costing one million dollars today. -
The Intolerable Acts
Passed by the British Parliament after the Boston Tea Party. Parliament was quite upset, so they became very strict on the colonist. No town meetings where permitted and only fire wood and food where permitted through the harbor where the Boston Tea Party took place. -
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The First Continental Congress
All of the thirteen colonies, except Georgia met with a determined goal of showing a combined authority to the British government. The specific objectives of this meeting where unclear, but the members wanted to become free from Britain. -
The Second Continental Congress
The leaders of the country met to decided what to do against the British and how they should fight the war. This is also where the delegates decided that the country needed a Declaration of Independence. -
The American Revolution begins
The Thirteen Colonies of the United States fighting for the separation and freedom from Britain. This was ultimately caused by the rising tension over years of harsh British rule in the colonies. -
The Declaration of Independence (official signing date)
The document that made America independent from the British. Created to prove to foreign powers that the colonies could become their own country. -
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation created a national government that composed of a Congress. Gave the government permission to declare war, sigh treaties, and many other things. -
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Shay's Rebellion
A series of violent attacks on courthouses and other government property. This was in protest of a tax raise. -
The Connecticut Compromise
Provided the states equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House of Representatives. -
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Philadelphia Convention
Lead to the creation of the Great Compromise, the Electoral college, and the Three Fifths Compromise.
