Important Events in Early American Government

Magna Carta

Jun 15, 1215

The Magna Carta was also known as "The Great Charter." This document stated that everyone was supposed to be ruled by law, even King John.

Jamestown Settled

May 14, 1607

This was the first settlement of the Virginia Colony. Jamestown was the capital of Virginia until 1669.

Mayflower Compact

Nov 11, 1620

The Mayflower Compact was the first document of Plymouth Colony. The Pilgrims were fleeing themselves from religious Persecution by King James of England.

Petition of Right

May 27, 1628

The Petition of Right is a very important document pertaining to the English constitution. It provided no taxes without consent.

English Bill of Rights

Dec 16, 1689

This Bill created seperation of powers, and it limited the powers of the king and queen. The English Bill of Rights had a huge impact on the Constitution of the United States.

Albany Plan of Union

Jun 1, 1754

The Albany Plan was the first important proposal to get all of the colonies under one united government. The colonial assemblies and the British Governemnts rejected the plan.

Stamp Act

Mar 22, 1765

The Stamp Act required everyone to pay taxes on newspapers and leagl documents. The cost of the Stamp Act was small, but the meaning behind the Stamp Act made people not like it.

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

The Boston Massacre was a street fight that started out with throwing snowballs and sticks. It didn't take long for it to escalate and turn into a brutal war.

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

Many of the colonists objected the Tea Act because they felt as if it violated thier rights. "No taxation without representation" was the famous quote of the Boston Tea Party.

Intolerable Acts

Mar 24, 1774

The Intolerable Act happened shortly after the Boston Tea Party. These acts/laws were made to punish the all of the colonists that dumped Tea into the Boston Harbor.

First Continental Congress

Sep 5, 1774

The First Continental Congress involved 12 out of the 13 colonies. The congress met up to consider options, but their petition was unsuccessful.

Second Continental Congress

Oct 26, 1774

The Second Continental Congress was focused on independence. Many of the people that attended the first continental congress came to the second one, hoping to reform the errors from the first meeting.

Beginning of the American Revolution

Apr 19, 1775

This war lasted for seven years. It was also known as the American War of Independence.

Declaration of Independence

Jul 4, 1776

The Declaration of Independence was a document apporved by represenataives of the American Colonies. This document declared our Independence over the British.

Articles of Confederation

Mar 1, 1781

This was the first constitution of the United States. The articles provided a system for the Continental Congress.

Shay's Rebellion

Sep 17, 1786

Daniel Shay led four thousand rebels against economic injustices. They attempted to capture the United States.

Philadelphia Convention

May 14, 1787

The convention was supposed to fix the Articles of Confederation but instead they decided to create a whole new government. The new government seperated the legislative, judicial, and executive branch.

Constitution Convention

May 25, 1787

All of the states were invited to send delegates. The Constitution Convention took place in Philadelphia.

Connecticut Compromise

Jul 16, 1787

The Connecticut Compromise is also known as the Great Compromise. The large and small states agreed that each state would have two representatives in the upper house.