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Jun 19, 1215
Magna Carta
This link is a website that provides information all about the Magna Carta. It summarizes what the document was and the events leading up to it. It also includes various pictures as well.The Magna Carta was signed in England by king John because he was facing a possible rebellion by the barons.Therfore he signed the Magna Carta to put all of England into a rule of law and to give freedom from oppression. The rights that were given to the people are that churches can be free from government interference, the right for citizens to own property, and the rights to be protected from excessive taxes. -
Mayflower Compact
Picture The mayflower compact was created to prevent dissent amoung puritans and pilgrams, whom have recently landed on plymouth. It was etablishing rules of government that was fair and was ruled by majority. The picture above is the english colonists signing the mayflower compact which formed a government which is now the framework of our current government. -
Petition of Rights
The Petition of Right is a document that declares that English men have certain rights and liberties. It demanded that no person should be forced to give money (gift, loan, or tax) without an Act of Parliament, no free person should be imprisoned without a reason, soldiers and sailors should not be billeted in private houses. and commisions to punish soldiers and sailors by martial law should be abolished. The Petition of Right was ratified by both houses and the King. -
English Bill of Rights
Mary and William signed the English Bill of rights. The rights that were given were freedom from royal interference with the law, freedom to petition the monarch, freedom from taxes, freedom from protestants to bear arms, freedom of speech, freedom from unjust punishment, and freedom from the standing army during times of peace. However the main focus of the English Bill of Rights was to allow people to speak out against the hierarchy with out having severe punishments. -
Albany Plan of Union
picture linkThe Albany Plan of Union was a proposal to create a unified government for the Thirteen Colonies. This Plan was proposed by Benjamin Franklin. Representatives gathered in Albany, New York to plan their defense in relation to the French and Indian War. Once sent to the Colonial Assemblies and the British Board of Trade, the plan was rejected. The famous political cartoon "Join, or Die" was created by Benjamin Franklin to encourage the colonies to come together against British rule -
French and Indian War
The French and Indian war was a 7 year war, it started in 1756-- 1763. This war was fought between Great Britain, the french, and the Indians of North America. The British ended up winning this war and won the right to keep Canada. A major battle is the Battle of Quebec, when The british and french comanders were killed and the British forces sieze on Quebec in uphill attack. Another major battle is Battle of Quiberon Bay when Bristish victory stoped the French navy's ability to add forces. -
King George III takes power
King George III was king of Enlgand from 1760-1820. After the event of the French and Indian War, Britain had many hefty debts to pay. He thought he could get this money by extracting it from the colonies. When King George III attempted this idea by many taxes ,and the colonists refused, he was outraged and thought they should be dealt with harshly. The relationship between Britain and the colonies was not a very friendly because of King George III. -
Stamp Act
picture link The Stamp Act was passed by the British Parliament and it required all American colonists to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used. This included ship's papers, legal documents, licenses, newspapers, and even playing cards! Colonial leaders and many others were outraged by the Stamp Act. This was because the new tax was an attempt by England to raise money in the colonies without the approval of the colonial legislatures. -
Boston Massacre
This website gives an in-depth look at the Boston Massacre and what happened on that tragic day. In addition, it gives a first-hand anonymous account of the event, along with illustrations. The Boston Massacre was an event where British Army soldiers fired into a crowd. The crowd was full of people who opposed the unpopular Parliamentary legislation that was trying to be enforced, and this is what led to the tragedy. Five civilian men were killed. In addition, six others were injured -
Boston Tea Party
This educational video provides the viewer with an explanation of what happened at the Boston Tea Party in regards to the taxation and the colonists response to the tax. [Photo](www.learnnc.org)The sons of liberty was the group incharge of leading the Boston Tea party. The british responded by starting the intolerable acts which closed the boston ports and shut down the Massachusetts government. The Boston tea party took place because England taxes America, and we thought it was unfair. Therfore the Americans dressed up as indains and sumped all the tea from England into the harbor. Soon after the war for independence started because England was very mad, and still had unfair taxes! -
First Continental Congress
[photo](www.usfca.edu )The first continental congress was a group of 56 delegates from 12 differnet colonies met up in Philadephia to discuss liberty and how to respond to the intolerable acts. The main people in this are Patrick Henry, George Washington, John Adams, and John Jay. Together they all made a list of complaints that they would later send to England, and aggreed to stop buying british goods until the intolerable acts were lifted. They also united all the colonies to fight for their independence. -
Intolerable Acts
picture link "Intolerable Acts" was the name given to a series of laws passed by the British Parliament in relation to Massachusetts after the Boston Tea Party. These laws were intended to punish Boston for this destruction of private property during the Boston Tea Party, and restore British authority in Massachusetts. These acts denied Massachusetts self-government and historic rights. The Intolerable Acts included: The Boston Port Act, The Massachusetts Government Act, and a few others. -
Lexington and Concord
picture link These battles, Lexington and Concord, kicked off the American Revolutionary War. A confrontation at Lexington started off the fighting, and the British were quicklky retreating under a lot of fire. Many more battles followed, and in 1783 the colonists formally won their independence.British Generals included: William Gage, William Howe and Henry Clinton. Paul Revere rode to the villiage to warn the people that the British were coming. This was his famous "midnight ride". -
Second Continental Congress
The second continental congress met in the State house in philadelphia to discuss what they were going to do next. At this meeting they established the militia as the continetnal armt to represnt the 13 states, and the continental army to have Geroge Washington as their comander in Cheif. Also Ben Franklin, John Hancock, and Thomas Jefferon joined, and Geroge washing and John adams were still apart of it. At the meeting it drafted the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederaton -
The Declaration of Independence
[Photo](www.archives.gov) The declaration of Indpendence was written by Thomas Jefferson and was drafted by the Second Continetal Congress to state that America wants freedom from the Bristish colonies. This picture is of the document of the Declaration of Independence. -
Articles of Confederation
PhotoThe Articles of Conderations purpose was to form the first govermental document fo the United States. This allowed all 13 colonies to come together when dealing with the Eurpean powers. Also John Hanson was the first president under the the articles. The photo is of the artclies of confederation whcih is stating to give a large amount of power to each state, and few power to the national government. -
The Treaty of Paris
picture link The Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolutionary War between the British and America. The United States was represented by Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Henry Laurens, and John Adams. The new boundaries of the U.S. extended the nation west to the Mississippi River and south to Spanish Florida. In addition, the British finally recognized the Declaration of Independence and America's freedom. -
Start of Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention began on May 25 and continued to September 17, 1787. The original goal of the Constitutional Convention was to address problems in governing the United States of America, as well as revising the Articles of Confederation. At the Annapolis Convention, delegates from five states came together to discuss improvements to the Articles of Confederation.
