-
Jamestown Landing
Settled by the Virginia Company, Jamestown was originally a business venture that became a sprawling center in Southern United States. -
Plymouth Landing
The "Pilgrims" settled this early colony after fleeing religious prosecution in Britain and survived as a permanent colony. Plymouth was settled in modern-day Massachusetts. -
Mayflower Compact
This was one of the first governing documents written in what's now the United States. It foreshadowed the democracy that sprung out of the American colonies and began a spirit of cooperation between the colonists. -
Period: to
French and Indian War
A war fought over colonial territory and weatlth, the French and Indian War claimed more lives than the American Revolution. It was fought between the British and the French, the former having won at large costs. Effects included the loss of French influence in North America and expanded British territory. However, the relationship between the Native Americans and the British was worse off, and likewise with the colonists (colonists didnt want to pay the money the crown required for war debts). -
Albany Congress Meets
Representatives from 7 of the 13 American Colonies meet in Albany, New York. Their main interests were to sort out relation with the Mohawk tribes and French agression. Another large topic was Franklin's Albany Plan of union- a union of 11 colonies with a president appointed by the crown. -
The Sugar Act
The tax rate on molasses and sugar was lowered in an attempt to get the American colonists to actually consistently pay their taxes. However, it raised suspicion about the British government and furthered the spirit of the American Revolution. -
Declaration of Rights
The first of the colonies' documents proclaiming the inherent rights of men, with many to follow in the future. It suggested being able to rebel against an inadequate government. James Madison drew inspiration from it when drafting the Bill of Rights. -
The Stamp Act
This Act required all legal documents- newspapers, journals, etc, to have an official stamp. This was seen as an extra tax without proper representations from the Americans. It was frowned upon by the public. -
Declaratory Act
After repealing the Stamp Act, the British government issued this statement that declared that Britain had the authority to pass laws that applied to the American colonies. This outraged many colonists who now suspected more unfair acts would be in their future. -
Townshend Act
These laws were intended to raise money for the British government to pay the salaries of judges and governors. However, after the British began to realize how bad relations with the colonists were descending, they began to consider repealing this act. -
Boston Massacre
British violence against 11 civilians in Boston. This event furthered tensions between the British and their American colonists, and played a part in sparking the Revolutionary War. -
Boston Tea Party
Arising from the unfair taxation of imported tea by the British Government and the East India Company, the Boston Tea Party was a resistance movement and nonviolent protest that involved throwing nearly 600,000 pounds of taxed tea into the Boston Harbor. The British government was appalled and, as a result, closed the Boston port. This was one of the most well-known and major reasons for the start of the war. -
Boston Port Act
Is considered one of the Intolerable Acts that led up to the American Revolution. A blockade was set up preventing trade into the Boston harbor until the Americans payed the damage costs of the Boston Tea Party as promised. This angered all the citizens of Boston, who thought it unfair that the entirety of the city was being punished for a political protest in which only a handful took part. -
Massachusetts Government Act
Another of the Intolerable Acts, the Massachusetts Government Act gave the British governor complete control over town meetings. It was another attempt at controlling the Provence of Massachusetts Bay, but only added to distrust rather than alleviate any tension or repair any losses. -
Quartering Act
Required colonists to house and support British soldiers. This was another addition to the list of Intolerable Acts, and further increased tensions between Britain and her colonies. -
Declaration of Rights and Grievances
No taxation without representation! This was the central message of this document passed by the Stamp Act Congress. It was largely a protest against the Stamp Act, which required all legal documents to bear a stamp- a seemingly unnecessary and unlawful tax for the Americans. -
Articles of Association
This called forth a boycott of trade with Britain until the unfavorable laws were repealed. It was considered by many to be the last alternative to armed rebellion. As a result, the colonies became more prepared for self-government as they became more independent. -
American Revolution
The result of years of tense relations with the British government, the Amerian Revolution was the armed rebellion that brought America her freedom. This was arguably the largest turning point in American history, and certainly one of the most important events in the construction of the constitution. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress began soon after the Revolutionary fighting had begun and focused primarily on the war effort and steps to self-governance. It was this congress that drafted the Declaration of Independence the following year. -
Declaration of Independence
This document announced the independence of the 13 American Colonies and declared them a sovereign nation apart from that of King George III. The famous second sentence, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Is considered one of the most consequential sentence in American History. -
Articles of Confederation Ratified
Effectually the US's first constitution, the Articles of Confederation called for a less centralised government that favored the rights of the then 13 states. It created a congress, but it was virtually ineffective without the power to collect taxes or enforce much of anything. A court system was not present, but not many laws were created by congress to be judged upon. -
Constitutinal Convention Convenes
This was a meeting of 55 delegates from different states in order to draft a governing document and frame the American Constitution. Alexander Hamilton and James Madison were among the most influential delegates present. -
Treaty of Paris
Formally brought an end to the Revolutionary War, despite small battles being fought in the years after. This treaty established US borders. -
Final Draft of the Constitution Sent to Congress
The Committee of Style and Arangement produced the final draft, and all but 13 ratified the Constitution with faith that a bill of rights would follow. In the spirit of this assignment, this is THE most important event on this timeline in accordance with the creation of the constitution, as it hailed the beginning of our constitution itself. -
Constitution Ratified
Following up from the creation of the final draft. All but 16 delegates (13 having left before the ceremony had ended) ratified the constitution draft, wary of the bill of rights having been left out. Eloquently put, Franklin commented on the painting of a rising sun behind Washington's chair, saying he often looked at the painting, "without being able to tell, whether it was rising or setting. But now at length, I have the happiness to know it is a rising, and not a setting sun." -
Constitution Goes Into Effect
Another distinguised date for the development of our constitution. This is a rather self-explanitory event: the constitution went into effect on the 4th of March, with the Bill of Rights soon to follow. -
Bill of Rights Added & Ratified
The Bill of Rights added a necessary addition to the constitution, in that it explicitly stated what the government could not do. This was a hot debate during the time of its ratification, as the Federalists saw it unnecessary at that point to have it included, and the Antifederalists feared a strong centralised government and would not sign without it.
