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Jun 10, 1215
Magna Charta
Originally called "Articles of the Barons" and referred to either as Magna Charta or the Great Charter. Document signed by King John of England, limiting his powers. First document to set up a constitutional government in England. Influence of the Magna Charta can be seen in the Bill of Rights in the American Constitution today. -
Jamestown is settled
100 English colonists arrived at Jamestown, Virginia to claim land for King James I. The colony suffered famine and Indian attacks. When Chief Powhatan of the Algonquian tirbe died, conflict arose between the tribe and the colonists. The new chief, Chief Opechancanough led an attack on the colonists killing a great deal of them. He continued to do this until he was captured in Jamestown and was executed. After that, the Algonquian Confederacy agreed to give up a large portion of their land. -
Mayflower Compact is written
This was the colonists, who landed in New Plymouth, attempt to create a government of their own. It created fair and equal laws and it claimed that the colonists were free from English law. THe Mayflower Compact was technically America's first constitution, but little of it is seen today in the actual Constitution. -
Petition of Right
English constitutional document that names specific liberities that the king cannot infringe on. It says that taxes can only be raised by Parliament and prisioners have the right to challenge the legitimacy of their detention through the writ of habeas corpus. It also banned the billeting of troops as does the Third Amendment in the Constitution. -
English Bill of Rights
Ended the concept of divine right of kings and was developed to limit the kings power and make them obey Parliament's laws. It also declared that only Parliament could raise taxes. The Emglish Bill of Rights was a precurser to the American Bill of Rights. -
Albany Plan of Union
Plan to put British North American colonies under a more centralized government. First document to concieve the colonies as a whole under one government. However, it was never carried out. -
Stamp Act
Parliament passed the Stamp Act to raise money to pay the soldiers who were stationed on the American Frontier. Everything printed was taxed, paper, cards, licenses, newspapers, etc. The taz was not a large one, but colonists opposed it because if they didn't, it would make Parliament think it could tax them all it wanted. -
Boston Massacre
Boston civilians became sick of the ever present British soliders and on March 5th, 50 men attacked a soldier. Back up soldiers were called in and they opened fire on a mob, killins three people on the spot and injuring 8, 2 of which died later. An event, along with others, that led to the Revolutionary War. -
Boston Tea Party
Parliament passed the Townsend Acts requiring the colonies to pay outlandish taxes to the British after their expensive victory in the French and Indian War. Parliament made the cost of tea really low, but if colonists bought it, they were acknowledging Parliament's right to tax them. On December 16, three ships landed in Boston. That night, 200 men dressed as Indians, boarded the ships and threw all the tea overboard into the ocean. -
Intolerable Acts
Series of punishments imposed on the colonists by Prime Minister Lord North after the Boston Tea Party. The Acts banned all town meetings, closed the Boston port until the money for the ruined tea was repaid, and allowed royal troops to stay in a civilians house if barracks were not available. -
First Continental Congress
Every colony sent delegates except Georgia. They set out to protest the Intolerable Acts passed by Parliament. They voted to cut off trade with Britian unless the Intolerable Acts were abolished. They also tried to define American rights, limit Parliament's power, and advised the colonies to prepare their citizens for war. -
American Revolution Begins
Started in Lexington, Massachusetts. Open gunfire wounded one British soldier and killed eight men on Lexington. This scene would trigger the Revolutionary War. -
Second Continental Congress
Congress members sent an olive branch to try to reconcile with the king, but he refuses. They appealed to Canadians and the Indians for support in their fight. Congress began producing paper money to pay the troops. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was an act of the Second Continental Congress. It declared the 13 colonies of North America free and independent states, separate from the England. The Declaration of Independence also states that all men were created equal and they have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. -
Articles of Confederation
Comprised of a preamble and 13 articles. It maintained the aspect of voting to the states and based taxes off building and property worth rather than population. Under the document, Congress was incredibly weak and all it's actions depending on the approval of the states. The United States' first ruling document before the Constitution. -
Shay's Rebellion
Was against big business. Shays composed a militia of 700 men who were debt-ridden farmers mostly from the Contenintal Army who were never paid for their services. Petitioned the state senate to issue paper money and to halt foreclosure of mortgages on their property and their own imprisonment for debt as a result of high land taxes. Broke into a jail to free debtors. -
Philadelphia Convention
Delegates met in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia. The Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan were discussed and they developed the Connecticut Compromise. Congress was also given much more power. -
Constitutional Convention
A meeting in which delegates from all the 13 states met in Philidelphia and created the Constitution. They called for complete secrecy of the meeting. They discussed things like the Virginia and New Jersey Plans and settled on the Connecticut Compromise. -
Connecticut Compromise
A compromise between the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan. It called for a two-house government, one house was equal representation (Senate), and the other was based on population of the state (House of Reps.) The compromise was named the Connecticut Compromise because Roger Sherman was active in the creating of this compromise and he is from Connecticut.
