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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta, also knows as The Great Charter, said that King John of England could not punish a "freeman". It was written in 1215, howerver, it was never signed. -
Jamestown was settled
Jamestown, settled in 1607, was the first British settlement in North America. The Virginia Company of England thought it would be a good idea, however, they did not know about the hard times they would have to face. -
Mayflower Compound was Written
The Mayflower Compact was signed in November of 1620. It stated that because they did not land in the originally decided spot the "would use their own liberty; for noone had the right to command them..." After this document was written the settlers set up their own government. -
Petition of Rights
This petition stated that thte crown could not be sued in contract and placed restrictions on non-parlimental taxes, forced billeting of soldiers, imprisonment without cause, and martial law. -
English Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights limited the power of Parliment, set the rights for freedom of speech in parliment and the right to petition wihtout fear of being in trouble with the law. -
Albany Plan of Union
The Albany Plan of Union stated that the union of colonies should be ran be a president appointed by the crwon. This plan was suggested by Benjamin Franklin at the Albany Congress in Albany New York. -
Stamp Act
This act required a tax to be placed on the transfer of certain documents. These documents recieved a special stamp which mad them legal. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was started by a mob of civilians who were verbaly abusing, and throwing objects at, British Slodiers. The soldiers fired into the crowed killing five and injuring six. The Slodiers were there to protect and support crown-appointed officials who were imposing unfair laws and taxes on the people. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a protest by the Sons of Liberty against the unfairly high taxes on impoted tea. The men dressed up as Indians, went onto the ships, and threw the tea into the Boston Harbor. Many protests still refer to it today. -
The Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were laws passed by the Parliament in 1774. Four of these laws were written in response to the Boston Tea Party. These acts created resistance and tension in the thirteen colonies. -
The First Continental Congress
This was a convention of the twelve British colonies who met in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. They met to do things such as stop the intolerable acts, plan boycotts, and write pertitions for King George III. -
American Revolution
The American Revolution began in early 1775 when the colonies rejected the king aas their leader and began thinking of themselves as a free country. They also got rid of all royal officials. The American Revolutionary War started on April 19 1775 when the first shot was fired in Lexington Massachusettes. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress managed colonial war and moved toward independance. They adopted the Declaration of Independance in 1776. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was an agreement between the original thirteen states and was used as the first constitution. It established the first thirteen states as confederate and sovereign states. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a document written to announce to the British Parliment that the thirteen colonies were now free from British rule. It was also a formal explanation of why the Constitutional Congress had voted to draft the Declaration on December 2, 1775. -
Constitution Convention
The Constitution Convention took place in Philadelphia Pennsylvania in the State House. They met to revise the Constitution and arrange it for the federal republic. -
Philadelphia Convention
This convention adressed problems with the United States government following the country's independance. They elected George Washington as the President over the convention. -
Connecticut Compromise
The Connecticut Compromise was an agreement met during the Constitutional Convention between large and small states. It defined legislative structure and representation for the houses. It also kept a bicameral legislation. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion was a series of unarmed uprisings in Massachusetts named after Daniel Shay, a Revolutionary War veteran. It was brought about by a lack of hard currency, post war depression, and harsh government policies. Some of the protestors even attempted to seize the Sprinngfield Armory.
