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Sep 20, 1215
Magna Carta
Magna Carta is an English charter that was originally issued in the year 1215. It was modified and reissued later in the 13th century and this version included the most direct challenges to the monarch's authority to date. It was first passed into law in 1225. Basically, it was a document forced onto the king in order to attempt to limit his powers by law. -
Jamestown is Settled
13 years before the pilgrims came, a group of 104 Englishmen landed on the banks of Virginia's James river. They created Jamestown. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact established a secure government for the pilgrims to follow, so they could have a sense of order. -
Petition of Right
The Petition of Right is a major English document that sets out specific liberties of the subject that the king is prohibited from infringing. The Petition is most notable for its confirmation of the principles that taxes can be levied only by Parliament, that martial law may not be imposed in time of peace, and that prisoners must be able to challenge the legitimacy of their detainment through the writ of habeas corpus. -
English Bill of Rights
Lays down limits on the powers of sovereign and sets out the rights of Parliament and rules for freedom of speech in Parliament, the requirement for regular elections to Parliament, and the right to petition the monarch without fear of retribution. It reestablished the liberty of Protestants to have arms for their defence within the rule of law. -
Albany Plan of Union
After the French and Indian War had concluded, English officials suggested a union after becoming aware of the strains that war had put on the colonies. In June 1754, delegates from most of the northern colonies and representatives from the Six Iroquois Nations met in Albany, New York and developed said plan of union. -
American Revolution Begins (1754-1781)
The 13 colonies begin to rebel against British rule and they begin a revolution to try and break free. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was passed by the British Parliament and included a new tax that was imposed on all American colonists. It required them to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used. -
Boston Massacre
On March 5, 1770, British redcoats killed five civilian men. They were assigned to protect crown-appointed colonial officials, however a small verbal riot broke out and in order to quell the threat, the redcoats fired into the crowd. They were not ordered to do so. -
Boston Tea Party
After officials in Boston refused to return three shiploads of taxed tea to Britain, a group of colonists boarded the ships and destroyed the tea by throwing it into the Boston Harbor. The Tea Party was a resistance movement that opposed the Tea Act. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from twelve of the thirteen North American colonies. They met on September 5, 1774, at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This meeting took place during the American Revolution. -
Intolerable Acts
Series of laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 relating to Britain's colonies in North America. The acts triggered outrage and resistance in the 13 Colonies. Four of the acts were issued in direct response to the Boston Tea Party. Parliament hoped these measures would reverse the trend of colonial resistance. Colonosists viewed the acts as a violation of their rights. -
Second Continental Congress
On May 10, 1775, the members of the Second Continental Congress met at the State House in Philadelphia. There were several new delegates including John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin. They established the militia as the Continental Army to represent the thirteen states. -
Declaration of Independence
Congress named a committee of five: Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson to prepare proclamation of independence from Britain. It was largely the work of Thomas Jefferson and it was finalized on July 4, 1776. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was an agreement among the 13 founding states that legally established the United States of America as a nation and served as its first constitution. The Articles gave Congress authority to be involved with war and foreign interactions across Europe. -
Shay's Rebellion (1786-1787)
Was an armed uprising in central and west Massachusetts (mainly Springfield) over financial difficulties. -
Philadelphia/Constitution Convention
Assembly that drafted the Constitution of the United States. All states but Rhode Island sent delegates in response to a call by the Annapolis Convention for a meeting in Philadelphia to amend the Articles of Confederation. The delegates decided to replace the Articles with a document that strengthened the federal government. -
Connecticut Compromise
The Connecticut Compromise (also known as the Great Compromise of 1787 or Sherman's Compromise) was an agreement between large and small states that was reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The agreement defined the legislative structure and representation that each state would have under the U.S. Constitution.
