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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
Signed by King John the Magna Carta was written by a group of barons to protect their rights and property from the king. -
Jamestown Settlement
Group of investors from the Virginia Company sailed across the sea. They were the first settled English colony in the America's. This group of investors hoped to profit from this voyage. -
Mayflower Compact
This is the first written government established in the United States. Signed by 41 English colonist the document was written to prevent dessent amongst Puritans and non separatist Pilgrims who had landed their ships in Plymouth a couple days earlier. -
Petition of Rights
English constitutional document that sets liberties of the subject that the king is prohibited of infringining. Forced Billeting of soldiers, restricts martial law, imprisonment without case, and restrictions on non-Parliamentary taxation. -
English Bill of Rights
Sets limits on the power of the crown and the rights of Parliament and rules for freedom of speech in Parliament. -
Albany Plan of Union
Plan that would put the British North American under a more centralized government. It was the first plan by the colonies as a whole although it was never carried out. -
Stamp Act
Tax to all Americans to pay tax on every piece of printed paper that they used. Passed by the British Parliament it was a way to raise money in the colonies. This was not apprpoved by the colonial legislatures. -
Boston Massacre
British Army Soldiers opened fire upon Boston citizens. Five civilians were murdered and six were injured. -
Boston Tea Party
Massachusettes Patriots, protesting the monopoloy on american tea importation, stole 342 chest of tea in a midnight raid. The took tea from three ships and threw them overboard into the water. -
Intolerable Acts
Laws passed by British Parliament in response to the Boston tea Party. Massachusettes was stripped of their self government and historic rights. This angered the colonist and eventually led to more rebellions starting up to the Revolutionary War. -
First Continental Congress
Twelve colonies had a convention of delegates. This meeting was called in response to the Coercive Acts, Intolerable Acts, which the British parliament imposed due to the Boston Tea Party. There were 56 members total from twelve colonies at this meeting. -
American Revolution
The first shots were fired in Lexington, Massachusettes. Only one British man was wounded yet eight Lexington colonist were killed. This began the American Revolution. -
Second Continental Congress
The second congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776. This congress was seen as the first national governent. -
Declaration of Independence
A 5 man committee drafted this formal statement of the colonies intentions to become an independent nation separate from Britian. -
Articles of Confederation
Written document that established the functions of the national government of the United States of America after it declared independence from Great britian. -
Shays Rebellion
American farmers protested against state and local enforcement of tax collections and judgements for debt. -
Philadelphia Convention
The convention was held to address the problems in governing the United States. This operated under the Articles of Confederation. The result of the convention was George Washington becoming president and the creation of the United States Constitution. -
Constitution Convention
Address the problems of governing thw United States, it operated the Articles of Confederation. George Washington was elected president and the Constitution was created. -
Connecticut Compromise
Agreement that large and small states defined the legislative structure and representation that eaxh state would have under the United States Constitution. Each State would have two representatives in the upper house.
