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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was signed by King John at Runnymede, England. The Magna Carta gave the people several rights. Now, the church was free from government influence and all citizens were allowed to own and inherite property. Also, widows who owned property were not forced to remarry. More Information about how it wasn't successful because it was not written with the common man in mind and how it inspired America: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/magna_carta/ -
Mayflower Compact
The purpose of this document was to provide the people with rules to govern themselves by. This was also the first type of self-government present in the English colonies. -
Petition of Rights
Rights that were granted to the people under petition: no taxes may be levied w/o consent of Parliment, no soldiers may be quartered upon the citizenry, no subject may be imprisioned w/o cause shown, and martial law may not be used in time of peace. It was signed by Charles I. Charles I, who signed the treaty, is in the picture. -
English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights was signed by King William III and Mary II. It allowed the people to have a right to send petitions to the government and to have a fair trial by jury. A copy of what was written in the English Bill of Rights:
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/17th_century/england.asp -
Albany Plan of Union
Ben Franklin proposed the Albany Plan. However, this plan was never put into affect because it gave the assembly too much power. The famous "Join or Die" political cartoon is associated the Albany Plan, and can be seen in the picture. -
French & Indian War
The major players in the war were the French and Indians vs. the British/Colonies. Some of the major battles were as follows: Massacre at Ft. William Henry, Battle of Quiberon Bay, and Battle of Quebec. The war was ultimately won by the British/Colonies. The colonies felt as if they no longer needed British protection. The photo depicts the Indians defeating General Braddock during the Battle of the Monongahela. -
King George III takes power
With the British victory in the French and Indian War, the colonies discovered that they did not need to be protected by Britain. While the colonists wanted to pull away from Britain, King George, who is in the pictuture, realized he needed to be more strict with the colonies and keep them under his power. -
Stamp Act
This act required the colonists to pay taxes on legal douments, pamphlets, newspapers, dice and playing cards. The colonists protested this act, and they refused to purchase British goods. -
Boston Massacre
Five colonists were killed in the Boston Massacre. The Massacre occured due to unpoplar taxation and occupation of Boston by British troops. The photo shown is Paul Revere's engraving of the Boston Massacre. It is interesting to point out that Revere made Crispus Attacks, one of the five killed, white, even though in reality he was black. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was planned by the Sons of Liberty. In response to this event, the British passed the Coercive Acts or the Intolerable Acts. The picture shows the Sons of Liberty dressed as Native Americans throwing the British tea off the boat into the water. -
Intolerable Acts
The British passed these acts in response to the Boston Massacre. These acts closed the Boston Harbor and took away Massachesett's right to govern itself. -
The First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress took place in Philadelphia. Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, Richard Henry Lee and George Washington all attended this event. During this meeting, the delegates decided to place an embargo on British goods. -
Second Continental Congress
Delegates from all thirteen colonies gathered in Philadelphia. They voted to organize an army and navy and to issue money. This made George Washington commander of the Continental Army. John Hancock was chosen as president. -
Lexington and Concord
British vs Patriots. The generals in this battle were, Thomas Gage on the British side and on the Patriot side Paul Revere and Joseph Warren. Paul Revere played the role of riding to Concord to warn the citizens that the British were planning an expedition. Paul Revere is depicted in the picture; he was a major leader of the Patriots. -
Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. The three parts include the following: the famous Preamble, a list of charges against King George III, and a conclusion. Video: SchoolHouse Rock - The Preamble
States exactly what the Preamble states, and gives information about certain dates and events that occured before the Preamble was written
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phwu_MhkPAY -
Articles of Confederation
John Hanson would be the first president under the Articles of Confederation. Three successes of it were it operated post offices, successfully waged a war for independence against British, and established Department of Foreign Affairs. Failures included, tariffs on trade between states; each state could have their own currency; and the national government couldn't force states to obey its laws. The photo is of a stamp that has a picture of the delegates writing the Articles. -
Treaty of Paris
Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Henry Laurens, and John Adams represented the United States in the Treaty of Paris' signing. The new boundaries became everything down to the Mississippi River which is shown in the photo. The British now finally recognized the Declaration of Independence. -
Start of the Constitutional Convention
It produced a report which was sent to Congress and to the States, asking for support for a broader meeting to happen, in hope of more states being represented. The original purpose was to fix barriers that limited trade between largely independent states.
