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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was signed by the barons of medieval England and King John. It was signed at Runnymeade near Windsor Castle. The people were given the right to access the courts, costs would not be an issue. No one would be imprisoned or punished without going throught the proper legal system. The image included is a picture of the document. -
Mayflower Compact
Before the Pilgrams set foot on American soil, the Mayflower Compact was a written set of rules for the new land. The picture I included is of the ship the Pilgrams sailed over on, the Mayflower. -
The Petition of Rights
The Petition of Rights stated that the Englishmen should not be denied due process, they should have protection from unjust siezure of property or imprisonment, the right to trial by jury, and protection from unjust punishments of excessive fines. King Charles I signed the Petition of Rights. -
English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights was signed by King William II and Queen Mary II. It gave people the freedom of speech. Royalty wasn't allowed to interfere with the law. There would be no taxation by Royal Prerogative. The subjects had the freedom to petition and to bare arms. It granted the promise of fines before convictions and there would be no excessive bail. It made cruel and unusual punishments illegal. The picture I included features King William and Queen Mary, the signers of the document. -
Albany Plan of Union
Benjamin Franklin suggested the Albany Plan of Union. It was a proposal for a unified government for the 13 colonies, but it never ended up happening. The image included is of a popular political cartoon created by Ben Franklin that features a fragmented snake and the phrase "Join or Die" that is directly associated with the Albany Plan of Union. -
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The French and Indian War (7 Years War)
Great Britian, France, and the Native Americans were the biggest contributors in the French and Indian War. Some of the most important battles include the Battle of Fort Necessity and the Battle of Louisburg. The British won the war, after which they began enforcing their policies so they could raise enough funds to repair their country. -
King George III Takes Power
King George III ruined the relationship between the British and the colonies because he didn't give the colonists someone to represent them in Parliment and he would outrageously tax the colonists. I included a picture of King George III. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act forced American colonists to pay a tax on every peice of printed paper they used. The colonial leaders reacted by protesting, saying "no taxation without representation." They convened the Stamp Act congess to vocalize their opposition to the tax. They boycott British goods, organized attacks on customs houses and the homes of tax collectors. The image included is of the Stamp Act Congress. -
Boston Massacre
5 colonists were killed during the Boston Massacre. During this time the Townshend Acts were being enforced which causes tension between the Patriots and the British. The image I included is a drawing of the Boston Massacre that depicts the pure violence of the event. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was organized by a secret society called the Sons of Liberty. In response to the tea party the British made the Intolerable Acts in 1774 which closed Boston ports and destroyed Massachusettes government. The picture included is of the colonists dumping the tea into the harbor. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congess was held at Carpenter's Hall in Philedelphia. Peyton Radolph, Patrick Henry, George Washington, John Adams, and John Jay were all majorly involved. This meeting was held to consider a united American resistance to the British and to debate and protest the Intolerable Acts. The image included is of the men discussing at the First Continental Congress. -
Intolerable Acts
The British passed the Intolerable Acts in response to the Boston Tea Party. They closed the port of Boston until damages from the tea party were paid, they restricted Massachusettes to democratic town meetings and turned the governor's council into an appointed body. They made British officials immune to criminal prosecution in Massachusettes, and required colonists to house British troops. They extended the freedom to warship to Catholics in Canda and extended their judicial system. -
Lexington and Concord
The Battles at Lexington and Concord led to the American Revolutionary War. The British were led by Colonel Smith, Major Pitcairne, and Lord Percy. The militia was comanded by Barret, Buttrick, and Robinson. The image is of Paul Revere, the "Midnight Rider." He rode through the night to all the towns yelling, "The British are coming, the British are coming!" -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was held in Philedelphia in Independence Hall. During this meeting the idea to form an Army, create a Declaration of Independence, to conduct a war, and form a new national government accepted by all 13 colonies was discussed. The colonial leaders involved were John Dickinson, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Hancock. The image is of the men debating at the Second Continental Congress. -
Delcaration of Independence
The image included is of the document, the Declaration of Independence. -
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Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation named John Hanson president. -
The Treaty of Paris
John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay represented the United States in the signing of the Treaty of Paris. The United States gained all territory between the Alleghany Mountains on the east and the Mississippi River on the rest. The British also finally recognized the Declaration of Independence. -
The Start of the Constitutional Convention
The Annapolis Convention was held to ammend the Articles of Confederation, but there was low attendance so a meeting of the Constitutional Convention in Philedelphia was arranged. The original purpose of the convention was to discuess the issues of interstate trade.
