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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
A document that a group of baron rebels forced King John to sign that gave the people more rights.
Notable Points
- Habeus Corpus: A person must be present at his/her own trial
- Protection of church rights
- Protection from illegal imprisonment
- Access to speedy and swift trials
- Protection from cruel and unusual punishment -
Jamestown
The first permanent settlement in the New World. After many failed attempts at establishing a settlement, including the Lost Colony of Roanoke, the Jamestown settlement was the first one to actually thrive. They set up their settlement in a triangle so that they could look out for Indians, the French, and the Spanish. -
Mayflower Compact
A compact signed by 41 of the Mayflower's passengers that was the first governing document of the Plymouth Colony. It outlined how they came to the New World for God, King, and Country and came to expand the Chritian Faith. They outlined their government and certain just rights. -
Petition of Right
A document that outlined certain rights that the king cannot infringe upon.
Notable points that the king could not force people to do
- Restrictions on non-Parliamentary taxation
- Imprisonment without cause
- Forcing people to lodge soldiers
- Use of martial law -
English Bill of Rights
A document that limited the power of the monarch in Britain and set out the rights of the Parliament, including the requirement for regular parliaments, free elections, and freedom of speech. It also outlined certain rights of the individual such as the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. It also gave Protestants the liberty to use arms to defend themselves and it condemned King James II on several misdeeds. -
Albany Plan of Union
It was a plan to put the British American colonies under a more centralized government. Although never implemented, it was the first big proposal that supported the idea of the colonies governing themselves. -
Stamp Act
A law passed by the British Parliament stating that things like newspapers, mail, and legal documents must be marked with a stamp (which they had to pay for). The act was repealed in 1766. -
Boston Massacre
The result of a riot gone wrong. A group of patriot riotters were throwing stones at a group of British soldiers. During this riot the soldiers fought back with their guns and shot into the crowd, resulting in 5 dead and the first black man to get killed by a British soldier, Crispus Attucks. It was called a "massacre" to help spark the flame of revolution, even though only 5 people died. The famous painting by Paul Revere depicting the event further helped fan the flames of revolution. -
Boston Tea Party
A protest executed by the Sons of Liberty. The protestees dressed up like Indians and dumped tea into the Boston Harbor. They were protesting the Tea Act, which heavily taxed tea that was imported into America. This was one of, if not the biggest, event which sparked the people's want of having representation in how they are taxed ("No taxation without representation") -
Intolerable Acts
Also known as the Coercive Acts. A set of tax laws that Britain imposed on the colonies for them to pay their fair share of the costs to maintain the British Empire. These acts included the Stamp Act, Tea Act, and Townshend Acts. The colonists were mad at Britain for imposing these taxes because they had no say in the implimentation of these taxes (no taxation without representation). Some of these acts were passed in response to the Boston Tea Party, which was a protest against the Tea Act -
First Continental Congress
A delegation that was called to order in response to the Intolerant Acts. Delegates from 12 of th 13 states came to the delegation (Georgia didn't come because they needed British help in dealing with the Native Americans in their area). The major accomplishmnet that they achieved here was the boycott of imported British goods. They also prepared for the Second Contintal Congress should there be a need for one.
Important Delegates
John Sullivan, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Harrison -
First Continetnal Congress (Continued)
(The father of William Henry Harrison), Patrick Henry, George Washington, -
American Revolution Begins
Massachusetts declared a state of rebellion and British soldiers were sent to disarm the rebels. This turned into the Battle of Lexington and Concord, which was the first battle of the Revolutionary War. This is the battle that is synonymous with Paul Revere's Midnight Ride. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was formed in May of 1775 and it ended in March of 178. It had delegates from all 13 colonies this time. Important things they did during this time was the writing of the Olive Branch Petition (A peace treaty to the Crown), the Articles of Confederation, and the Declaration of Independence.
Notable Delegates (not present in the First Continental Congress)
Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock, -
Declaration of Independence
A document the colonists made that declared independence from Britain. It included how they wanted to be free from Britain's grasp, certain unalienable rights and self-evident truths such as the right to pursue life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and indicted King George III for many misdeeds (even though most of it was Parliament not the King himself) It was written by Thomas Jefferson. -
Articles of Confederation
It was the first constitution that was adopted by the Continental Congress for America. It would stay in effect until 1789 when our current Constitution was written and adopted.
Notable Points in document
- It suggested that the name of the confederation should be "The United States of America"
- A Congress w/representation based on population
- Gave the national government powers that the states weren't designated -
Shay's Rebellion
An armed rebellion led by Daniel Shay (A Revolutionary War veteran) that were rebelling over perceived economic injustices in Massachusetts. They were quelled in June of 1787. The rebellion caught the attention of many important people, including George Washington, and they determined that they needed to form a stronger government. -
Philadelphia Convention
Also known as the Constitutional Convention, Federal Convention, or Grand Convention at Philadelphia; It lasted from May 1787 to September 1787. This convention was held to finalize a way to run their government now that Britain is no longer in control of them. By the end of this convention, they wrote up, approved, and signed the Constitution. Throughout the convention, various plans to run the country were presented, including the Virginia Plan (Madison Plan), New Jersey Plan, Hamilton Plan, -
Connecticut Compromise
Also known as the Great Compromise of 1787; Written up by Roger Sherman, it outlined the idea in the Constitution of having a lower house with proportioinal representation (House of Representatives) and an upper house with two representatives per state (Senate) -
Philadelphia Convetion (Continued)
Pinckney Plan, and the Connecticut Compromise
Important Delegates
Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, Charles Pinckney, James Madison, George Washington, Roger Sherman, William Paterson
