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Apr 15, 1215
Magna Carta
Provided the basis for the principle of limited government, in which the power of the monarch, or government, was limited, not absolute. This was signed by King John in Great Britian. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact is important because it was the first governing document of the Plymouth Colony. -
Petition of Rights
English document that sets out specific liberties of the subject that the king is prohibited from infringing. No taxes may be levied w/o consent of Parliament, no one can be imprisoned w/o cause shown, no soldiers may be quartered upon the citizenry. Signed by Charles I. -
King George III Takes Power
The French & Indian war cost the British a substantial amount of money. This led them to increase their taxation on the colonies, using the logic that it was to pay for their own defense. This caused animosity and ultimately led to the revolution. -
English Bill of Rights
This was signed by William and Mary and it limits the power of the crown and sets the rights in Parlament and rules for the freedom of speech in Parlament. -
Albany Plan of Union
The Albany Plan of Union was an innovative plan for the colonies suggested by Benjamin Franklin. It was rejected becauase it gave too much power to an assembly made up of representatives from the thriteen colonies. A political cartoon associated with this Plan was the "Join or Die" cartoon also created by Benjamin Franklin. -
French and Indian War
The main combatants of the French and Indian war were the French and the Indians against the British and the Colonists. Ultimately the British and Colonists won the war and some major battles along the way were the Battle of Quebec and the Battle of Quiberon Bay. -
The Treaty of Paris
Treaty that ended the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain & the U.S. Represented by Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Henry Laurens and John Adams. The British recognized America's independence--The Declaration of Independence. Northern border-Great Lakes/Western border-Mississippi River/Southern border-Spanish Florida. -
Stamp Act
An act passed by the British Parliament. American colonists paid a tax on every piece of printed paper they used. Colonial leaders were not happy and were afraid it would lead to more taxation in the future. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre started when the British troops were hit with snowballs thrown from some American Colonists, which led to them being fired upon resulting with the death of five colonists. The act being enforced that lead to this tragedy was the Townshend Act. -
Boston Tea Party
Many colonists were angry from all the taxes they had to pay so The Sons of Liberty in Boston dressed up as Indians and dumped an entire shipment of tea into the harbor. This event caused the British government to pass the Intolerable Acts. -
Intolerable Acts
A series of four acts passed by King George III--The Boston Port Act, Masachusetts Gov't Act, Administration of Justice Act, and the Quebec Act. This was a result because of the colonists' defiant display at the Boston Tea Party. Closed off the port of Boston and jury trials went to Great Britain. -
First Continental Congress
The first Continental Congress took place at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Many important people at this time appeared here including George Washington, John Jay, John Adams and Roger Sherman. The meeting was called in response to the Intolerable Acts and they made a boycott of British goods and decided a second meeting should be held on May 10, 1775. -
Lexington and Concord
First military engagement of the American Revoluntionary War. Paul Revere warned colonists that the British were coming. John Parker led the minutemen. Francis Smith led the British. The colonists defeated the British and by the following summer, a full scale war broke out. -
Second Continental Congress
A convention of delegates from the 13 colonies that met in Philadelphia, PA . Laid the foundation for what would become the USA and adopting the Declaration of Independence. Ben Franklin, John Hancock, Peyton Randolph, Charles Thomson are in attendance. -
Declaration of Independence
Regarded the 13 colonies as independent states and no longer apart of the British Empire. Thomas Jefferson composed the original draft. The Preamble which is the basic principles of the leaders, Secondly, lists grievances and third dissolves ties with Britain -
Articles of Confederation
Established the functions of the national gov't of the U.S. John Hanson was the first president under the articles. Land Ordinance of 1785 helped expand the west, slavery was not allowed in northwest states, gov't could not tax the states, Congress could pass laws but could not force states to obey them. -
Start of the Constitutional Convention
Delegates assembled in Philadelphia to conduct a peaceful overthrow of the new American gov't as defined by the Articles of Confederation. To create a new gov't rather than fix the existing one. Purpose of the Annapolis Convention was to discuss trade regulation but only 5 states participated and all 13 were required. -
American Revolution
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Continental Convention
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American Revolution Video
