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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was signed by King John on June 15, 1215.
It is also referred to as the Magna Charter or the Great Charter. The Magna Carta is considered the founding document of English liberties and hence American liberties. -
Nov 13, 1295
Parliament Begins
On November 13, 1295 King Edward called his parliament. There primary role was to raise taxes so King Edward could raise the funds for his wars. King Edward's parliament was important because it was used by the king and was his own government with represenetives from all over the country. -
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses they was the first representative assembly in the colonies, that helped to bring order to the colonies.The Virginia House of Burgesses’ members consisted of a governor and his council, and six representatives, which were called “Burgesses”. -
Mayflower Compact
The document was drawn up in response to "mutinous speeches" that had come about because the Pilgrims had intended to settle in Northern Virginia, but the decision was made after arrival to instead settle in New England. Since there was no government in place, some felt they had no legal obligation to remain within the colony and supply their labor. The Mayflower Compact attempted to temporarily establish that government until a more official one could be drawn up in England that would give th -
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution was also known as the Bloodless Revolution.Glorious Revolution changed the government in England.John Locke was an english writer who supported the Glorious Revolution. -
English Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights was a pretty controversial idea when it was proposed in 1789, because a majority of the founding fathers had already entertained and rejected the idea of including a Bill of Rights in the original 1787 Constitution.This document further restrictions the monarch's power. -
Common Law
In the earliest day they had no written laws.Common law is a legal system that the United States and Great Britain use. According to this law the judges have to consider the decisions of the earlier courts about the cases that are alike when they are making there own. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was passed on March 22, 1765, leading to an uproar in the colonies over an issue that was to be a major cause of the Revolution: taxation without representation. Enacted in November 1765, the controversial act forced colonists to buy a British stamp for every official document they obtained. -
Intolerable Acts
The Boston Port Act: The first of these closed the port of Boston until the East India Company was paid for the lost tea.
Massachusetts Government Act: The second modified the Massachusetts Charter of 1691, taking away many of its rights of self-government.Administration of Justice Act: The third measure provided that British officials accused of committing crimes in a colony might be taken to England for trial.
The Quartering Act: The fourth measure allowed the British to quarter British. -
First Constinental Congress
Delegates from all thirteen colonies met in 1774 in Philadelphia to discuss responses to increased British oppression.First Continental Congress declared that colonists should have the same rights as Englishmen; they also agreed to form the Continental Association, which called for the suspension of trade with Great Britain. -
Second Continental Congress
Some new and returning delegates included Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and the new president of the Continental Congress, John Hancock. The Congress included sixty-five delegates. Thomas Jefferson was a plantation owner and a lawyer who was well-known as a good writer. Benjamin Franklin wanted independence, but many delegates disagreed. Even after the Battles of Lexington and Concord, they weren't ready to break away from Great Britain. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation served as the written document that established the functions of the national government of the United States after it declared independence from Great Britain. It established a weak central government that mostly, but not entirely, prevented the individual states from conducting their own foreign diplomacy. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion, the post-Revolutionary clash between New England farmers and merchants that tested the precarious institutions of the new republic, threatened to plunge the "disunited states" into a civil war. The rebellion arose in Massachusetts in 1786, spread to other states, and culminated in an abortive attack on a federal arsenal. It wound down in 1787 with the election of a more popular governor, an economic upswing, and the creation of the Constitution of the United States in Philadelp -
The Great Compromise
When the Consitution was being created, they had to decide how the states should be represented. The large states wanted representation based on population. The small states wanted equal representation for all states. Our Founding Fathers took both of those ideas and combined them, so we have an upper house (the Senate) where each state gets two votes, and a lower house (the House of Representatives) where representation is based on population. This is known as the "Great Compromise". -
Constitutional Convention
delegates from the various states met in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia. Among the first orders of business was electing George Washington president of the Convention and establishing the rules--including complete secrecy concerning its deliberations--that would guide the proceedings. (Several delegates, most notably James Madison, took extensive notes, but these were not published until decades later.)The main business of the Convention began four days later when Governor Edm -
Federalist Papers
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. All of the essays were signed "PUBLIUS" and the actual authors of some are under dispute, but the general consensus is that Alexander Hamilton wrote 52, James Madison wrote 28, and John Jay contributed the remaining five. -
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Bill of Rights
In September 1789, the first Congress of the United States approved 12 amendments to the U.S. Constitution and sent them to the states for ratification. The amendments were designed to protect the basic rights of U.S. citizens, guaranteeing the freedom of speech, press, assembly, and exercise of religion; the right to fair legal procedure and to bear arms; and that powers not delegated to the federal government would be reserved for the states and the people.
