Major Events for Early American Government

Magna Carta

Jun 15, 1215

First drafted by the Archbishop of Canterbury to make peace between the unpopular King and a group of rebel barons, it promised the protection of church rights, protection for the barons from illegal imprisonment, access to swift justice, and limitations on feudal payments to the Crown

Jamestown Settled

May 14, 1607

First permanent English settlement in the Americas.

Mayflower Compact

Nov 11, 1620

First governing document of the Plymouth Colony. Written by passengers of the Mayflower.

Petition of Right

Jun 7, 1628

English document that declares which liberties the king may not infringe upon.

English Bill of Rights

Dec 16, 1689

Bill passed by English Parliament. The Bill creates separation of powers, limits the powers of the king and queen, enhances the democratic election and bolsters freedom of speech.

Albany Plan of Union

Jul 10, 1754

Plan suggested by Ben Franklin to create a unified government for the thirteen colonies.

Stamp Act

Mar 22, 1765

Act passed by English parliament that required American documents be written on stamped paper from England, with a tax on the stamped paper.

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

Killing of five American civilians by British soldiers in Boston. Culmination of tension that had been boiling over since England had begun enforcing heavy taxes on the Americans.

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

Political protest by the American "Sons of Liberty" where the protesters took over a British tea transport ship and threw the tea into the Boston Harbor.

Intolerable Acts

Mar 24, 1774

Act that took away governing rights in Massachusetts. Was payback from the British for the Boston Tea Party.

First Continental Congress

Sep 5, 1774

Meetings of delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies in Philadelphia in response to the Intolerable Acts

Beginning of the American Revolution

Apr 19, 1775

Overthrow of the British in the Thirteen American Colonies where the colonists fought back against the British monarchy and created their own nation and government.

Second Continental Congress

May 5, 1775

Second meeting of delegates of the Thirteen Colonies. Met soon after warfare had begun, and officially declared the start of the Revolutionary War

Declaration of Independence

Jul 4, 1776

Document adopted by the Second Continental Congress that declared independence of the Thirteen Colonies from the British.

Articles of Confederation

Mar 1, 1781

First constitution of the United States. Later replaced by the current United States Constitution.

Shays' Rebellion

Aug 12, 1786

Armed uprising in Massachusetts by farmers against tax and debt collectors. Led by Daniel Shays.

Constitutional Convention

May 5, 1787

Also known as the Philadelphia Convention. Congress met to revise the Articles of Confederation. The convention lasted for four moths and ended in the creation of the United States Constitution.

Connecticut Compromise

Jul 16, 1787

Compromise brought about during the Constitutional Convention. It defined the legislative structure and representation that each state would have under the United States Constitution.