-
Jan 1, 1215
The Magna Carta
A charter that required the king give certain undeniable rights to people and accept that his rule was not arbitrary. -
Petition of Right
An English document that distinguishes certain liberties that the king can not infringe upon. -
English Bill of Rights
It set down the limits to the king's powers of sovereign and the rights and powers of Parliment. -
The Albanny Plan of York
Suggested by Benjamin Franklin, the Albanny Plan of York was the first of attempt to unify the colonies under one central government. While this plan ultimately failed to be ennacted it layed down a basis for the Articles of Confederation later on. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre occurred when eight British soldiers were being verbally abused and having objects thrown at them by a mob in Boston. This resulted in the soldiers firing off a volley into the crowd killing three men and injuring a few others, two who later died becuase of those wounds. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a political protest to the tax policy of the Britich Government and the East India Trading Company. The Sons of Liberty dressed up as Indians and snuck on board three British ships and tossed it all into the Boston Harbor. -
The Intolerable Acts
A series of acts passed in direct reponse to the Boston Tea Party designed to punich the colonies. Probably most notable of these acts was the Stamp Act. -
First Continental Congress
Was a convention of delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies discussing what to do in response to the passing of the Coercive Acts by the British Parliment. It was decided here that the colonies would boycott British trade goods in an effort to have the act redress -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was held to organize the war and move slowly towards becoming an independent country. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was one of the Intolerable Acts passed in reponse to the Boston Tea Party. The act required many printed materials to only be printed and made on a British made stamped paper. -
The Decleration of Independence
Statement adopted by the Continental Congress that stated that the 13 colonies where completely seperate and independent from Britain. -
The Articles of Confederation
Served as the 13 colonies first written constitution and provided domestic and international legitamacy for the States. The articles where later replaced by the U.S. constition. -
The Constitutional Convention
Took place to address problems in governing the United States under the Articles of Confederation. Originally the Convention was intended to revise the Articles but concluded in the creation of the United States Constituition. This event is debatably the most significant in the history of the United States. -
Shay's Rebellion
An armned uprising that took place in Massachusetts. It was caused by a multitude of factors including post-war debt, lack of currency, and harsh government policies. -
Connecticut Convention
An agreement that the small and large states reached during the Constitutional Convention that determined how large and small states would be represented.
