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Period: Jan 1, 1200 to
List of Events
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Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta
Means "The Great Charter" in Latin. Also called the Magna Carta Libertatum meaning "the Great Charter of the Liberties." Issued by King John of England, was meant to protect the barrens of the kings acts as well as give them basic rights. -
Petition of Right
It is a set of documents laying out what liberties of the subject the King is not allowed to infringe on. Was presented by Sir Edward Coke after King Charles I broke up Parliament and ruled the kingdom on his own. -
English Bill of Rights
It is an English precursor of the Constitution, as well as the Magna Carta and the Petition of Right. It limits the power of the English sovereign and was written as an act of Parliament. -
Albany Plan of Union
A proposal by benjamin Franklin to create a unified government for the Thirteen Colonies. A senior leader and a delegate from Pennsylvania also suggested it at the Albany Congress in Albany, New York. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was the killing of five colonists by British Army soldiers. It is also known as the Incident on King Street. -
Boston Tea Party
A group of colonists, in protest to the laws set down by the British, stormed a British ship and dumped all of the tea onboard into the harbor. The group of colonists called themselves the Sons of Liberty. In retalliation to the attacks, the British closed the ports. This was a key event in the American Revolution. -
First Continental Congress
This was a meeting of delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies that met at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They met on September 5th and October 26th at the beginning of the American Revolution. The only colony not represented was Georgia. -
Second Continental Congress
Soon after the American Revolutionary War began, a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies started meeting in Philidelphia, Pennsylvania. These delegates formed the Continental Army. -
Declaration of Independence
It was drafted by Thomas Jefferson in only 17 days. It declared independence from Great Britain and was signed on our great nation's birthday. -
Articles of Confederation
The Continental Congress adopted it as the first constitution of the United Stated of America. It was not ratified by all thirteen states until March 1, 1781. -
Shay's Rebellion
In Massachusetts, mostly in and around Springfield, an armed uprising took place during 1786 and 1787. It was the most intense in the rural and relatively new areas of central and western Massachusetts. -
Virginia Plan
Also known as the Randolph Plan, or the Large-State Plan, it was a proposal by Virginia delegatesfor a bicameral legislative branch. It was drafted by James Madison while he was waiting for a quorum to assemble at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. -
Philadelphia Convention
Also known as the Constitutional Convention. 55 delegates from 12 states. More than half of them were lawyers. All were white men. Average age of 42. Most of them were veterans of the Revolutionary War. -
New Jersey Plan
Also known as the Smaller State Plan or the Paterson Plan. It was a proposal for the structure of the United States Government presented by William Paterson at the Constituional Convention. Federal laws were supreme over state laws. Congress also could set and collect taxes.
