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Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta
The first document that was forced upon a King of England that limited his powers and protected the people. This led to constitutional law and helped with the colonization of America. -
Petition of Right
A major English constitutional document, giving specific liberties that the king cannot infringe. The Petition contains restrictions on non-Parliamentary taxation, forced billeting of soldiers, imprisonment without cause, and restricts the use of martial law. -
English Bill of Rights
It was a restatement in statutory form of the Declaration of Right presented by the Convention Parliament to William and Mary. It invited them to become a part of England. It laid down limits of the crown. -
Albany Plan of Union
This was a plan to place the American colonies under a more centralized government. It was never carried out, but it was the first plan to unify the colonies. -
Stamp Act
Imposed a direct tax on printed materials. The purpose of the tax was to help pay for British troops. -
Boston Massacre
A mob formed around British soldiers, giving them verbal abuse and harassing them. Eventually, they fired into the crowd and killed five people, while injuring six. -
Boston Tea Party
Protest against the tax policy of the British government. After officials in Boston refused to return taxed tea to Britain, a group of colonists boarded the ship and threw the tea overboard. -
Intolerable Acts
A series of punishing laws, created because of the Boston Tea Party. It stripped Massachussetts of its self-government and historic rights, and had many other upsetting acts. -
First Continental Convention
A convention of delegates from 12 colonies that met at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia. It was called to discuss the Intolerable Acts that were made for punishment of the Boston -
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Second Continental Congress
A convention of delegates from the 13 colonies that met soon after the Revolutionary War began. Adopted the Declaration of Independence and managed the colonial war effort. -
Declaration of Independence
Announced that the 13 American colonies were independent. Thomas Jefferson wrote it, and John Adams wanted Independence day on the 2nd. -
Articles of Confederation
This was an agreement with the 13 founding states the established the USA as a confederation. It provided domestic and international legitimacy for the Continental Congress to direct the Revolutionary War. -
Philadelphia Convention
Originally met to revise the Articles of Confederation. They decided to make a completely new document, and created the Constitution.
