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Jun 15, 1215
The Magna Carta
Finally fed up with King John's tyrannical rule, 40 English barons drafted the Magna Carta in hopes of limiting the powers of the monarchy. After forcing King John to sign it, the barons felt that they finally got their way even though there were limited benefits included for commoners. However, Pope Innocent III rejected the Magna Carta and England plunged into civil war. -
Jamestown settled
Just a decade before the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth, over 100 men and boys established a settlement on Virginia's James River. The Virginia Company of London used their voyage to help generate a profit by utilizing the resources found in the New World, which would later be known as America. -
Mayflower Compact Signed
The Mayflower Compact was written by the Separatists, immigrants who were fleeing to the New World after suffering religious persecution in England and Ireland. This Compact declared that the Pilgrims would rule amongst themselves and have an internal government free of religious persecution. -
English Petition of Right
The English Petition of Right basically spelled out the limitations of a king or queen regarding their demands on their subjects. These included: (1) No taxes may be levied without consent of Parliament, (2) No subject may be imprisoned without cause shown (reaffirmation of the right of habeas corpus), (3) No soldiers may be quartered upon the citizenry, and (4) Martial law may not be used in time of peace. -
English Bill of Rights
This was one of the original foundations of the British constitution. This Bill of Rights, somewhat modeled after the Magna Carta, helped establish the rights, as well as limitations, of the monarchy and citizens, including the right to bear arms and elect delegates democratically. -
Albany Plan of Union
Though it was never enacted, the Albany Plan of Union was intended to create a more centralized and stabilized government for the British North American colonies. Benjamin Franklin, the Plan's creator, hoped to convince the colonists that they needed to stick together once the colonies realized the French and Indian War would be inevitable. Even though it was never put into effect, this Plan served as an important stepping stone to determining which principles America would be based upon. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was a tax imposed on the American colonists by the British monarchy. The tax, which required taxing on everything from magazines to newspapers to playing cards, was enforced by King George in order to help Britain pay off its war debts. -
The Boston Massacre
British soldiers, stationed in Boston to protect "crown-appointed officials" against the rebelling colonists, opened fire on a mob of angry colonists after being subjected to verbal threats. -
Boston Tea Party
Angry over the King's tea tax, rebellious colonists, posing as Indians, raided trade ships in Boston Harbor and threw all the tea crates overboard into the harbor. -
The Intolerable Acts
This was basically a punishment on the American colonists for having dumped the tea into the harbor during the Boston Tea Party. The King declared that Boston Harbor would only be open to British ships, British officials would officiate town halls and trials, and the colonists would be forced to house British troops in their homes. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress formed in response to the King's enactment of the Intolerable Acts. It was comprised of 56 members who represented the 13 colonies. Though they disbanded in 1775, the Congress confronted issues and discussions regarding the boycott of British goods and the rights of the people, as well as petitioning to the King to lift the Intolerable Acts. -
American Revolution begins
On April 19, as over 700 British troops marched into Lexington, they found almost 100 colonial minutemen waiting for them on the town's common green. Within minutes, "the shot heard round the world" was fired (though noone knows which side fired first) and the American Revolution began. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress succeeded the First Continental Congress. It's main goal was to manage the war effort in the colonies and push hard for independence from Britain. The Declaration of Independence was passed by the Second Congress. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was the official document written by Thomas Jefferson that declared America's intent to be independent from Britain. The Declaration, which emphasized individual rights and right of revolution, could very well be one of the most risky and dangerous documents in U.S. history because the colonists were finally cutting ties from their King and being outspoken about their "treacherous" beliefs. -
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation, the original Constitution of the United States, established a national legislature (the Continental Congress) but granted most authority to the state legislature. Though it was adopted by Congress in 1777, it wasn't officially enacted until 1781. Comprised of 13 Articles, this document is the first to declare the states as the "United States of America." -
Shays' Rebellion
Daniel Shays, a veteran Captain in the American Revolution, ledan army of farmers in an attack on the government after being refused paper money and having their homes foreclosed during the depression following the American Revolution. -
Connecticut Compromise
This Compromise established the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House would have representation based ona state's share of the U.S. population, and the Senate would have two representatives from each state. -
Philadelphia Convention/Constitution Covention
The Philadelphia Convention, also known as the Constitution Convention, lasted from May 14 to September 17, 1787, as delegates from the 13 colonies addressed issues with the U.S. government structure. The delegates elected George Washington to be their leader as they embarked on a mission to create America's government and the Constitution.
