Early american government

Major Events for Early American Government

  • Jun 15, 1215

    Magna Carta

    Magna Carta
    The Magna Carta is the "great charter" of English liberties, forced from King John by the English barons. It was sealed on this date.
  • Jamestown settled

    Jamestown settled
    Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in North America.
  • Mayflower Compact written

    Mayflower Compact written
    The Mayflower Compact was an agreement to establish a government, entered into by the Pilgrims in the cabin of the Mayflower.
  • Petition of Right

    Petition of Right
    The Petition of Right was a legal petition asserting a right against the English crown. Parliament sent to Charles I complaining of a series of breeches of law. Also referred to the procedure by which a subject could sue the crown.
  • English Bill of Rights

    English Bill of Rights
    The English Bill of Rights was an English statue confirming the Declaration of Rights, declaring the rights and liberties of the subjects and settling the succession in William III and Mary II. It was passed on this date.
  • Albany Plan of Union

    Albany Plan of Union
    The Albany Congress was a meeting of delegates from seven American colonies, held at Albany on this date, at which Benjamin Franklin proposed the Albany Plan of Union for unifying the colonies.
  • Stamp Act

    Stamp Act
    The Stamp Act was an act of the British Parliment for raising revenue in the American Colonies by requiring the use of stamps for official documents, commercial writings, and various articles. The Stamp Act was to go into effect on this date, but was met with intense opposition and repealed in March of 1766.
  • Boston Massacre

    Boston Massacre
    The Boston Massacre was a riot in Boston on this date that rose from the resentment of Boston colonists toward British troups quartered in the city. The troops fired on the mob and killed several people.
  • Boston Tea Party

    Boston Tea Party
    The Boston Tea Party was a raid on three British ships in Boston Harbor on this date. Boston colonists, disguised as Indians, threw the contents of several hundred chests of tea into the harbor as a protest against British taxes on tea.
  • Intolerable Acts

    Intolerable Acts
    The Intolerable Acts were a series of laws passed by the British this year (no specific date) in an attempt to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party.
  • First Continental Congress

    First Continental Congress
    The First Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from twelve colonies that met on this date early in the Americnan Revolution.
  • American Revolution begins

    American Revolution begins
    The American Revolution was the war between Great Britain and its American colonies, by which the colonies won their independence.
  • Second Continental Congress

    Second Continental Congress
    The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that started meeting on this date, soon after warfare in the American Revolutionary War had begun.
  • Declaration of Independence

    Declaration of Independence
    The Declaration of Independence was the public act by which the Second Continental Congress, on this date, declarated the Colonies to be free and independent of England.
  • Articles of Confederation

    Articles of Confederation
    The Articles of Confederation were the first constitution of the 13 American states, adopted on this date.
  • Shays' Rebellion

    Shays' Rebellion
    Shays' Rebellion was an armed uprising that took place in Massachusetts in an attempt to seize weaponry and overthrow the government. The Rebellion started on this date.
  • Philadelphia Convention

    Philadelphia Convention
    The Philadelphia Convention (Constitutional Convention) was the convention in Philadelphia of representatives from each of the former Colonies, except Rhode Island, at which the Constitution of the United States was framed. The Philadlephia Convention started on this date.
  • Connecticut Compromise

    Connecticut Compromise
    The Connecticut Compromise was a compromise adopted at the Constitutional Convention (Philadelphia Convention), providing the states with equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House of Representatives.