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Mar 20, 1215
The Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was the first document to place restrictions on an English rulers powers. It protected people`s right to own private property and guaranteed trial by jury. It also limited the monarch`s right to impose taxes withouy speaking with the nobles. -
Period: to
colonial times
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Anne Bradstreet
She was the first colonial poet. The first book that was published was called The Tenth Muse, Lately Sprung Up in America but it was not published until after her death. Two of her poems, '' Upon the Burning of Our House'' and " To my Dear and Loving Hardships'', expressed the joys and hardships of life in Puritan. -
John Locke
In one of his writings called Two Treaties on Government, Locke argued that people have certain natural rights. He felt that these natural rights cannot be taken away from anyone. The natural rights included life, liberty, and property. He stated that natural rights came from God. -
Trianglular Trade
British colonies had developed a regular routine, known as the triangular trade. This was a trade between the colonies, the islands of Caribbean, and Africa. On the first leg, ships from New England carried fish, lumber, and other goods to the Caribbean islands, or West Indies. On the second leg, ships carried rum, guns, and other goods from New England to West Africa. Finally on the third leg, ships carried their human cargo to the West Indies for sale. -
Pontiac`s War
Pontiac, leader of the Ottawa nation, formed an alliance of western Native Americans. On May 1763, Pontiac and his allies attacked British forts and settlements throughout the area. Almost half a dozen western British forts were destroyed and at least 2,000 backcountry settlers were killed.To get even the British killed Native Americans. -
The Sugar Act
The British wanted to impose new taxes on the colonies so Parliament passed the Sugar Act. It put an import tax on several products, inlcuding molasses. It also called for a harsh punishment of smugglers. -
The Quartering Act
Parliament passed the Quartering Act because they wanted to save money. This act required colonists to quarter or house British troops and provide them with food and other supplies. -
The Stamp Act
This act required that all colonists buy special tax stamps for all kinds of products and activities. -
The Boston Massacre
A group of angry workers and sailors surrounded a group of soldiers and started to shout and throw rocks and snowballs at the soldiers. The frightened soldiers got their guns and shoot into the crowd, killing five and wounding six. -
The Tea Act
The British Parliament passed the Tea Act because it was inteneded to help the Bristish East India Company. It was one of Britain`s most important companies.The colonial boycott of tea hurt the company badly so the Tea Act actually lowered the price of tea allowing the East India Company to ship tea directly to the colonies. -
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin was a colonial writer. He started a newspaper called the Pennsylavania Gazette at the age of 17. It was mostly read by people in the colonies. Poor Ricahrd`s Almanack was one of Ben`s most popular work. The writing was full of pithy sayings that usually had a moral and it was publised every year from 1733 to 1753. Wrtiing was not the only job he did. He was also a businessman, community leader, scientist, inventor and diplomant. -
The Boston Tea Party
A large group of men dusgusied as native americans met at the harbor and threw 342 cases of tea into the harbor. They destroyed 9,000 pounds of tea. -
Common Sense
The day a 50-page pamphlet was published. Thomas Paine was the author and he wrote this pamphlet because he wanted to explain to the people why they do not need kings. The pamphlet stimulated broad support for independence. It inspired people in all the colonies. -
Decleration of Independence
The day congress approved the Decleration of Independence. It was written by Thomas Jefferson. The Decleration of Independence changed the nature of the Revolution. This document is one of the world`s enduring document and has inspried Americans and people in other nations. -
Valley Forge
Washington`s Continental army suffered through a cruel winter in a horrible camp at Valley Forge in Pennsylvania. The Continental soldiers were not fed, clothed or housed properly. They went through these harsh conditions for about a year and then finally the Americsns heard about it and sent help.
