-
Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta limited the powers of King John while also giving certain freedoms to the people. The US Constitution and Bill of Rights based their principles on the Magna Carta. -
Jamestown Settled
This was the first official English settlement on North American land. It was located in the Colony of Virginia. -
Mayflower Compact
This document governed the Separatists when they formed the Plymouth Colony. It claims that since they colonized land that wasn't delegated to them, they had their own liberties since nobody had power over them. -
Petition of Right
The Petition of Right explains the people's certain freedoms in which the king cannot infringe upon. It beared various similarities to the Magna Carta. -
English Bill of Rights
Essentially, this bill asserted the powers of Parliament. In return, it lessened the king's power. -
Albany Plan of Union
This plan was to unite the colonies in order to embrace the strains of war that would be placed upon them. In this plan, colonial legislatures elect delegates to an assembly that has a royal governor to oversee it. -
Stamp Act
With a large debt, Britain decided to place this tax upon the colonies in order to tend to that debt. This was an inital act of trying to place Britain's power over the colonies. -
Boston Massacre
An angry crowd was gathered at the Boston Customs House in front of a group of British soldiers. After the crowd angered the soldiers, the soldiers fired into the crowd, killing five people. -
Boston Tea Party
The Tea Act reduced taxes on imported British tea in an attempt to increase sales on British tea over the tea actually being sold in America. The Boston Tea Party was a major act of protest in response to the Tea Act. -
Intolerable Acts
In retaliation of the Boston Tea Party, Britain passed the Intolerable Acts to punish Boston. These acts included the Boston Port Act, Administration of Justice Act, Quartering Act, Massachusetts Government Act, and Quebec Act. -
First Continental Congress
This meeting of delegates from the 13 colonies resulted in the passing of the Intolerable Acts. They discussed boycotting British trade and sending a petition to King George III. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress acted as the government of the colonies during the Revolution. They adopted the Declaration of Independence. -
American Revolution Begins
The Revoultionary War is the very war that claimed the 13 colonies' independence from Great Britain. The events preceding the revolution consisted of Britain unjustly taxing the colonies and attempting to enforce its power over the colonies. -
Declaration of Independence
This document declared the colonies' independence from Britain, addressing King George's unjust acts against them. It was one of the major causes of the American Revolution. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first Constitution of the United States. It was ratified on March 1, 1781, but it was replaced by the US Constitution years later. -
Shay's Rebellion
A small band of farmers, led by Daniel Shay, continuously attacked courthouses. This was to block foreclosure proceedings. -
Philadelphia Convention
The convention was a result of the ineffectiveness of the Articles of Confederation as a Constitution for the US. It led to the creation of the US Constitution we use today. -
Constitution Convention
This convention addressed the issues with the Articles of Confederation. The idea of a new constitution was proposed at the convention. -
Connecticut Compromise
The compromise laid the foundation of our legislature. It formed the Senate, which equally represented all of the states, and the House of Representatives, which proportionally represented the states.
