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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta, also known as The Great Charter, is a document that was created to limit the powers of the monarch. It also preserved the basic rights of all men and also King John himself. -
Jamestown Settled
A group of London entrepreneurs were chartered by King James 1 to establish an English settlement in Virginia. Their goal was to settle Virginia, find a water route to the Orient and find gold. -
Mayflower Compact
A written agreement by the majority of the new settlers ariving in New Plymouth on the Mayflower ship. The agreement was created by the settlers due to their knowledge of the previous settlers failure to survive. -
Petition of Right
A statement of civil liberties sent by Parliament to Charles I. Initiated by Sir Edward Coke based on previous charters and statues. -
English Bill of Rights
Signed into law by King William III and presented due to repeated abuses of power by King James II. Guaranteed specific freedoms and tied up loose ends from King James' flight from England -
Albany Plan of Union
The first attempt by the colonies to create one united government. Proposed unification of all of the colonies except for Georgia and Delaware. -
Stamp Act
The new tax was imposed on all American colonists and required them to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used. The money collected by the Stamp Act was to be used to help pay the costs of defending and protecting the American frontier near the Appalachian Mountains. -
Boston Massacre
The killing of five colonists by British regulars. It was the result of tensions in the American colonies that had been growing since Royal troops first appeared in Massachusetts. -
Boston Tea Party
The response of the patriots in Boston to the British attempt to impose a tax on tea in the colonies. Colonists got on the ships carrying the tea and dumped it into the Boston Harbor. -
Intolerable Acts
Laws that were really punishments that King George III put on the colonies. These were passed in retaliation to the Boston Tea Party. -
First Continental Congress
Brought together representatives from each of the colonies, except Georgia, to discuss their response to the British Intolerable Acts. The meeting was held to discuss unfair treatment from Britain, what relationship the colonies should have with Britain, and what colonists' rights should be. -
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First Continental Congress
Brought together representatives from each of the colonies, except Georgia, to discuss their response to the British Intolerable Acts. The meeting was held to discuss unfair treatment from Britain, what relationship the colonies should have with Britain, and what colonists' rights should be. -
American Revolution Begins
Also known as the American Revolutionary War and the U.S. War of Independence. The conflict arose from growing tensions between residents of Great Britain's 13 North American colonies and the colonial government, which represented the British crown. -
Second Continental Congress
Body of representatives appointed by the legislatures of thirteen British North American colonies. They adopted the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. -
Declaration of Independence
A five-man committee including Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin was tasked with drafting a formal statement of the colonies' intentions. These intentions were this document, declaring independece from Britain. -
Articles of Confederation
The first constitution of the United States. Created a loose confederation of sovereign states and a weak central government, leaving most of the power with the state governments. -
Shay's Rebellion
Led by Daniel Shays, was a protest over direct taxes and other economic and political problems faced by farmers of Western Massachusetts. This was due to the inability to pay their debts because the the paper currency in circulation was wortless, causing them to be foreclosed on by the state government. -
Philadelphia Convention
Delegates from several states met in the State House in Philadelphia. Their intentions for meeting were to establish a Constitution for a federal republic that would last into the foreseeable future. -
The Constitutional Convention
Delegates from several states met in the State House in Philadelphia. Their intentions for meeting were to establish a Constitution for a federal republic that would last into the foreseeable future. -
Connecticut Compromise
Also known as The Great Compromise of 1787. Centered on how many representatives each state should have in the new government's lawmaking branch, the U.S. Congress.
