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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
In 1215 they foreced the king to sign an agreement called the Magna Carta. This protected the nobels privileges and authority, or control. This also granted, or allowed, certain rights to all landholders. The Magna Carta limited the power of the monarch guaranteeing that noone would be above the law. This was important because it made everyone equal. -
Nov 13, 1295
Parliament Begins
The Parliament was the English legaslative branch. Nobody set out to create Parliament. It developed naturally out of the daily political needs of the English King and his government. -
House Of Burgess
The House of Burgesses was the first representative assembly, or legislature, in the English colonies. The House of Burgess had little power, but it marked the beginning of self goverment in colonial America. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact is a written agreement composed by a consensus of the new Settlers arriving at New Plymouth in November of 1620. -
Glorious Revolution
The peaceful transfer of power was known as the Glorious Revolution. This changed goverment in England. From then on they had no ruler in Englad. -
English Bill Of Rights
The Parliament drew up the English Bill of Rights in 1689. This document futher restricted the monarch's power. It guarenteed free electtions to the Parliment, the right to a fair trial, and the elimination of cruel and unsusual punishments. -
Common Law
Common Law rests on court decisions instead of regulations written by lawmakers. Even though there common law came about without being planned, it worked well and has remained in place to this day. -
Stamp Act
First direct British tax on American colonists. Instituted in November, 1765. Every newspaper, pamphlet, and other public and legal document had to have a Stamp, or British seal, on it. -
The First Continental Congress
This meeting lasted seven weeks. During this time period, the delegates sent a document to King George III demanding that the rights of the colonists be restored. During the meeting they aslo made plans to extend the boycott of British goods. When the meeting ended they vowed to hold another meeting if demands were not met. -
Second Continental Congress
On May 10, 1775, the members of the Second Continental Congress met at the State House in Philadelphia. The Second Continental Congress established the militia as the Continental Army to represent the thirteen states. They also elected George Washington as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. -
Articles of Confederation
The Continental Congress wrote the Articles of Confederation during the Revolutionary War. The articles were written to give the colonies some sense of a unified government.The Articles of Confederation became effective on March 1, 1781. -
Shay's Rebellion
During Shay's Rebellion many farmers in this area suffered from high debt as they tried to start new farms. Shay's Rebellion demonstrated the high degree of internal conflict lurking beneath the surface of post-Revolutionary life. -
Great Compromise
The deal of having legislature with two houses, one based on population and elected by the people and the other house allowing two senators per state being appointed by state legislatures -
Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention of May 1787 was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The delegates worked for 4 months behind closed doors of the State House to draft a new document known later as the "Constitution." -
Federalist Papers
The Federalist Papers were written and published during the years 1787. The Federalist Papers consist of 85 essays outlining how this new government would operate and why this type of government was the best choice for the United States of America -
Constitution ratifield by 2/3 of the states
Ratification of the Constitution took place on June 21, 1788. Once the ninth state ratified the Constitution, the Congress set a timetable to begin government under the Constitution. -
Bill Of Rights
The name for the first 10 ammendments to the US Constitution, serving to protect the Natural Rights of Liberty and Property.
