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Jul 1, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was one of the first political documents of its kind. It was the first document to limit the power of the English King and established in writing for the first time the basic rights of its citizens. It inspired many things written in our own constitution. -
Jamestown Settlement
This was the first successful English settlement in America, and was named after King James II -
Mayflower Compact
A document that passangers aboard a ship to America created to have a basic government once they arrived. -
Petition of Right
This was another significant British document that layed out basic rights of British citizens that the King cannot touch. -
English Bill of Rights
This was an inspiration behind the American Bill of Rights, it lays out basic rights that all citizens should be entitled to. -
Albany Plan of Union
This plan, suggested by Benjamin Franklin, was one of the first attempts to unify the original 13 US colonies under one government. The plan was rejected and never came to fruition, but was a huge stepping stone towards America's freedom from British tyranny. -
Stamp Act
This act imposed a tax on British Colonies to pay for troops stationed in North America. It affected documents like newspapers, magazines, and legal documents. -
Boston Massacre
Protestors in Boston harrassed British soldiers into firing, killing 5 men, including Crispus Attucks. It was a major moment during the Revolution. -
Boston Tea Party
This "Party" was the result of Britain's Tea Act that put a large tax on tea imports into Colonial America. Protesting Bostonians dumped a lrage shipment of tea into the Boston Harbor. -
Intolerable Acts
These were a direct result of the Boston Tea Party. As punishment the British Government released these acts that included the Boston Port Act, the Massachusetts Government Act, The Administration of Justice Act, The Quartering Act, and The Quebec Act. -
First Continental Congress
They met to discuss what the should do in retaliation to the Intolerable Acts that were imposed on America after the Boston Tea Party. They decided to boycott British trade and set a date for the Second Continental Congress. -
Second Continental Congress
This congress put together the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. It discussed how the states would go about handling the Revolutionary War and how to go about succeeding from Britain. -
The American Revolution
The war started in 1775. This revolution was the result of hundreds of years of British tyranny and allowed America to become what it is today. -
Declaration of Independence
This is one of America's most important documents, it seperated us from Britain's tyranny, alowing us to create our own government, and giving us the opportunity to create the United States of America as we know them. -
The Articles of Confederation
This document established a basic constitution among the original thirteen states after the Revolutionary War. It was replaced on March 9th of 1789 by The Constitution that is still in affect today. -
Shay's Rebellion
This rebellion helped establish unions. Farmer's were unhappy with government so they revolted. -
Philadelphia Convention (Constitutional Convention)
It replaced the Articles of Confederation with the US Constitution that survives to this day. The convention was originally called to revise the Articles of Confederation but some wanted an entirely new constitution. George Washington was apointed to preside over the convention that created a new and improved constitution. -
Connecticut Compromise
This compromise, created in the Constitutional Convention, it made congress have the two houses, the House of Representatives, which gives state representation by size, and the Senate, which gives state representation equally. It was a combination of the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan.
