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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
The people of England, upset with unsuccessful taxation, coerced King John into signing this document that would limit his power and the power of future powers to fit under a certain set of laws. This was the starting point to common law and a different system of government. -
Jamestown
The Virginia Company of London founded it. It was the first permanent colony of the Americas. -
Mayflower Compact
Written on the Mayflower on the way to the Americas, it was the first framework of government written for the territory that is now the US. -
Petition of Right
The Petition of Right was an English Constitutional document that helped give rights to the subjects of King Charles 1. It stated that no taxes could be levied without the consent of the Parliament. It also said that no English could be imprisoned without cause and no soldiers could be quartered in citizens homes. Martial law could not be used in peacetime. -
English Bill of Rights
Signed into law by Willam 3 and Mary 2 who became co-owners of England after the overthrow of King James 2. This ultimately gave Parliament power over the monarchy. -
Albany Plan of Union
A plan that was created by American colonists that would have established a government to oversee the colonies. Many British and Americans found the plan to extreme and the plan was never enacted. It foreshadowed the unity and government to come in the colonies. -
Stamp Act
The British government imposed a tax on the colonists on all paper products. They did this because they ran out of funds to pay off their war debts so they turned to America. The colonists thought this was taxation without representation so they rebelled by rioting and intimidating the British. -
American Revolution
The American colonies fighting for their independence from Britain. It was led by George Washington. The Colonies won the war and became independent. -
Boston Massacre
The American Patriots started to rebel against British guards. As the tension increased, more and more fights broke out. During the Boston Massacre many people died. The Massacre brought attention to the rising tension between the British and Americans. -
Boston Tea Party
Loads of British Tea were thrown into the Boston Harbor by American Patriots disguised as Indians. The Americans were protesting the tax on tea and the monopoly of the British Tea company. -
First Continental Congress
A special convention that invited delegates from each colony to a meeting in Philadelphia. It focused on righting the wrongs imposed on the colonies. Patrick Henry, George Washington, John Adams, and John Jay were among the delegates. -
Intolerable Acts
The intolerable acts were laws given to the colonies from the British government that were meant to punish them for the Boston Tea Party. The laws took away self-government which outraged the colonists and was a leading factor in the start of the revolutionary war. -
Second Continental Congress
The congress functioned as a government by raising armies and signing treaties. Most of the members of the First congress attended but Ben Franklin and John Hancock joined. The managed the war movement, created the Articles of Confederation, and agreed to the Declaration of Independence. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson and taken in by the Second Continental Congress. It stated the reasons the colonies sought independence from Britain. -
Articles of Confederation
The first constitution of the United States. The Articles were written by many people including Benjamin Franklin, Silas Dean, and John Dickinson. The articles gave Congress the authority to make treaties and alliances, maintain armed forces, and coin money. The Articles were not strong enough to enforce or raise taxes, making it hard to pay the national debt. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's rebellion was a year-long uprising of poor farmers who thought that the upper class were imposing unfair taxes on those that could not pay them. This rebellion lead to George Washington becoming President. -
Philadelphia Convention
This convention addressed the problems with the weak government proposed by the Articles of Confederation. This Convention lasted two years and created the U.S. Constitution which made a stronger government that was involved with foreign affairs. -
The Connecticut Compromise
The Compromise dealt with equal representation within the government and states. This made the Senate and House of Representatives which created a compromise for big and small states. It combined the Virginia plan and New Jersey plan.
