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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
This was the first document to be forced on the King of England by his subjects in an attempt to limit his power and protect their privilages. It was signed by King John at Runnymede, near Windsor Castle. It promised the subjects that laws would be good and fair, everyone would have access to the court regardless of wealth, and no free man would be imprissioned without proper hearings. -
Mayflower Compact
It was the first governed document of the plymoth colonies. It was signed aboard the ship by most men, but not including the crew and servants. The purpose of the Mayflower Compact was to ensure that settlers coming from the Mayflower to Plymoth Rock would establish a fair government ruled by majority. -
Petition of Rights
It is a mjor English Consitutional document that sets out rules the King can not infringe. It contains restrictions on non-Parliamentary taxation, forced billeting of soldiers, imprisonment without cause, and restricts the use of martial law. It was signed by King Charles I. -
English Bill of RIghts
Website on English Bill of Rights It was a restatement of the Decloration of Rights presented earlier that year. It controls the power of the crown, giving more right to parliment such as freedom of speech in parliment. The parliament of England was involved in signing it. It gave freedom to petition, bare arms, and freedom of speech. Also, taxation by royal prerogative was no longer aloud. -
French and indian War
Primarily fought between the colonies of British America and New France. Both sides were supported by military units from their home countries of Great Britian and France. In 1756, it went from a regional affair to a world wide conflict. One of the first major events was when the British were defeated at Fort Duqesne. Also, another was when the French took Fort Oswego. Another major battle was the Battle of Qubec in 1759. The British ultimately won the conflict because the French agreed to sign -
French and Indian War (continued)
The French and Indian War Websitethe Treaty of Paris. During the war the American Colonies thought it was great that the red coats were there to help. After the war ended however King George decided that he needed to have a standing army in America and people would go along with that but they didn't. The relationship became more strained then it was before. On one side of this whole conflict was Great Britian, British America, and the Iroquois Confederacy, on the other side was France, New France, and the Wabanki Confederacy. -
Albany Plan of Union
This was a plan to put North American British colonies under a more centeralized government. Although it was never fully carried out it was the first step toward what later became the reveloution. This plan was suggested by Ben Franklin, but again was never actually used. "Join or Die" was a popular political cartoon thats associated with this meeting. It was created by Ben Franklin and first published in the Pennsylvania Gazette on May 9th, 1754. -
King George III takes power
He was happily married and had 16 children. He had very high moral standards and was intrested in argicultural. During his reign there were advances in manufacturing mechanisation. During the French and Indian War, King George raised the taxes for the colonies and created new taxes in order to pay for the war and house the Bristish soilders. Also, he said the colonies couldn't make settlements past the Appilation Mountains. This angered the colonies and put a strain on their relationship. -
Stamp Act
This required them to pay excess amounts of taxes on small simple things that didn't actually cost that much. The colonists viewed this as a way to raise money for Britian. Items being taxed were ones like Ship's papers, legal documents, licenses, newpapers, other publications, and even playing cards. The colonials leaders were angered by this and when the Virginia House of Burgesses adopted Patirck Henry's resolves. Virgina would only pay Virginia taxes. -
Boston Massacre
Video on the Boston MassacreIt was an indident in which British soilders fired on a crowd of protesters without order. They were there to protect and support the crown appointed colony officials. The soliders killed 5 civilian men and injured 6 others. The British soliders were stationed to maintain control among colonists and help to enforce the Townshend Acts of 1767. After Parliament repealed the Stamp Act, they wanted no more trouble like that. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable (Coercive) Act was the patriots name of laws passed to punish the Boston Tea Party. This was a very large part in leading us into the Revolutionary War. It was punishment for the Boston Tea Party, and they stripped Massachusetts of its power and passed the Tea Act which allowed the British East India Company to sell directly to the Colonies. Also the Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Government Act, the Administration of Justisce Act, and Quartering Act. -
Boston Tea Party
Video on Boston Tea Party The Boston Tea Party took place when a group of Massachusetts Patriots protested the taxes on the import of tea. The Patriots were led by Samual Adams to dump 342 chests of tea at midnight into the harbor. The Coercive Acts of 1774 were intended to punish the colonies for both the Boston Tea Party and their resistance in general. -
First Continental Congress
It was a convention of delegates from twelve colonies (Georgia was not present). It was called because of the intolerable acts by the British Parliament. It was attended to by 56 members appointed by the legislatures of twelve of the colonies. Major delegates who attended included George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe. At this meeting they decided to boycott British goods. It took place in Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia PA. -
Lexington and Concord
These battles were the first military engagements in the Revolutionary War. They were fought in Middlesex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay. These two battles started the open armed conflict between Britian and it's conlonies. In the end the militas of the conlonies won this conflict. The British leaders involved were Francis Smith, John Pitcairn and Hugh Percy. The colonies leaders were John Parker, James Barret and more. Paul Revere is alerted the militia to approach the British forces. -
Second Continental Congress
This Congress took place in Philidelphia PA, just like the first one. It met soon after the warfare of the Revolution began. It managed war efforts, and moved greatly towards independence and eventually created the Decloration of Independence. The colonial leaders involved were Ben Franklin, John Hancock,Thomas Jefferson, and Henry Middleton, along with most of the delagates of the first congress. Came up with the idea for the Decloration, and approved creation of the Articles of Confederation. -
The Declaration of Independence
WebsiteThis document stated that the 13 colonies garded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of Britian. John Adams was a leader in pushing for indepedence. Thomas Jefferson coposed the original draft of the document, and which congress edited and finally became the final draft. It was adopted by the Continental Congress on July, 4 1776. -
Articles of Confederation
These were formally known as the Articles of Confederation and Peretual Union. They were an agreement the the United States of American as a conferation of sovereign states and served as the countries first Consitution. It was eventually replaced with the U.S. Constitution. The first president under these articles was Samuel Huntington who just continued as president, then John Hanson. -
The Treaty of Paris
This ended the Revolutionary War for both sides. The peace negotiations involved Ben Franklin, John Jay, Henry Laurens and John Adams, and from Britian David Hartley and Richard Oswald. It was signed by Ben Franklin, John Jay, and John Adams on the American side. The British finally recognized the Decloration of Independence. The borders of the U.S. were set from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River. Also the land to the Great Lakes on the North and Flordia on the South. -
Start of Constitutional Convention
Its purpose was the address problems in governing the U.S.A. which had been operating under the Articles of Confederation following their gained independence. Through this event the United States Constitution was created, making this one of the most significant events in US histroy. They tried to fix the government, but not enough representation was their, so they sent letters to congress leading to the Philidelphia Conference.
