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Jun 15, 1215
Signing of Magna Carta
Location: Runnymede near Windsor King John signed to limit his power Prevented unjust punishment Basis of limited government -
First colony founded
Location: Jamestown, Virginia First successsful colony 100 colonists The beginning of 13 colonies and British rule -
Signing of Petition of Right
Location: England Severely limited king's power King could not do things such as collect taxes without Parliament's consent Protection of rights like in U.S. government -
Implementation of English Bill of Rights
Location: England Set limits on what ruler could and couldn't do Incorporated elements from Magna Carta Dealth with constitutional matters and basic rights of the people -
Last colony founded
Location: Georgia James Oglethorpe asked king for charter Purpose was to defend against Spanish Restricting laws as a "trustee colony" Colonists began to govern themselves -
Albany Plan of Union
Location: Albany, NY Plan to unite colonies Colonies rejected because it gave too much power to an assembly made up of representatives from all colonies Beginning of how states are separately governed today -
George III comes to throne
Location: Britain Dealt more firmly with colonies Levied taxes on everyday goods This pushed colonies to rebel from monarchy and start the U.S. government -
Stamp Act goes into effect
Location: Boston, Massachusetts Direct tax on goods Last straw for colonies Made colonies desire their own independence and led to revolt -
Stamp Act Congress convenes
Location: New York First meeting by colonies to protest King George III They stated only colonial legistlatures could impost direct taxe
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Colonies began to work together like an independent government -
Boston Massacre
Location: King Street in Boston Patriots provoked animosity of British soldiers British soldiers killed five civilians, harmed six others Murder fueled even more hatred from colonies -
Boston Tea Party
Location: Boston Harbor Sons of Liberty boarded ships in Boston harbor Dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor Important act against British monarchy -
First Continental Congress meets
Location: Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia Prompted by Intolerable Acts Key colonial leaders attended Embargo on Britain (agreement that they would not trade with them) -
Start of American Revolution, "The Shot Heard Round the World"
Location: Lexington and Concord British redcoats vs. colonial minutemen Colonists led by Sons of Liberty First battle of Revolutionary War which led to independence -
Second Continental Congress meets
Location: Philadelphia Delegates from 13 colonies gathered Assumed powers of a central government Served asa government of the colonies during the war -
Signing of Declaration of Independence
Location: Philadelphia Second Continental Congress voted that 13 colonies no longer part of British empire Thomas Jefferson composed original draft John Adams leader in pupshing for independence Beginning of U.S. recognization as its own country and independence from U.K. -
Articles of Confederation adopted
Location: U.S. First written constitution of the U.S. Unicameral congress Each state had one vote in congress -
Shays Rebellion
Location: Massachusetts Armed farmers rebelled against courts Didn't want to lose their farms during the depression Led to concerns over a weak central government
