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Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta
Authorized to be written by King John of England. Meant to limit powers of a king and protect the rights of citizens. -
Jamestown Settled
Was the first successful settlement of England in North America. The trip to found Jamestown was funded by the Virginia Company of London. -
Mayflower Compact
Was the first governed document of the Plymouth colony. Original document has been lost, but 3 different versions have been found. It was to spread fair and equal laws for the general good of the settlement. -
Petition of Right
Sets out specific liberties of the subject that the king is prohibited from infringing on the colonists. Was produced by the English Parliament. -
English Bill of Rights
Gave Parliament the right to petition the monarchy without the retribution. Ideas were reflected by those of John Locke. -
Stamp Act
Direct tax imposed by British Parliament. Printed materials were to be produced on stamp paper produced by London and taxed. -
Boston Massacre
Street fight between colonist and British soliders from tension caused by taxation. In all 5 colonists were killed. -
Boston Tea Party
Parliament taxed tea to recoup war costs. Colonist protested by dumping the tea of ships from Britian into harbor waters. -
Albany Plan of Union
Proposed by Ben Franklin at the Albany Congress. Planned to propose a union of several colonies in Massachusetts for their mutual defense and security for extending British settlements. -
First Continental Congress
Brought together representatives from each colony, except Georgia, They gathered to discuss their response to the "Intolerable Acts". -
Intolerable Acts
Series of laws sponsored by the Prime Minister. Response to the Boston Tea Party. Triggered outrage within the 13 original colonies. -
Second Continental Congress
All 13 states were in attendance. John Hancock was a new delegate. They established a militia as the continental army. -
American Revolution Begins.
War to break the 13 colonies free of British rule. This war began in Lexington. -
Declaration of Independence
Announced that the 13 colonies were single states and no longer apart of British rule. Reason for the 4th of July. -
Articles of Confederation
First Constitution of the United States, it legally united all states by agreement. Was formely ratified by all 13 colonies in 1781. -
Shay's Rebellion
The rebellion started over financial difficulties. Militia was raised as a private army and attacked the Springfield Armory. -
Philadelphia Convention
George Washington was elected to preside over the convention. It was intended to revise the Articles of Confederation. -
Connecticut Compromise
Agreement between large and small states that defined the legislative structure as all states would be under the same rule, which that rule was the United States Constitution.
