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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
Magna Carta was signed between the feudal barons and King John at Runnymede near Windsor Castle. The document was a series of written promises betweent he King and his subjects that he would govern England and deal with its people. Magna Carta is significant because it's used today to restrain the power of monarchs. -
The French and Indian War
The French and Indian war was the North American conflict in a large imperial war between Great Britain and France also known as the Seven Years War. It is important because the victory of Great Britain resulted in expansion of territory in the New World. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was issued by King George III following Great Britain's acquistiton of French territory in North America after the end of the French and Indian War. It forbade all settlement past a line drawn along the Appalachian Mountains. It's important because it prhibited American settlers from moving west of the Mississippi to prevent the outbreak of violence. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was a law passed by British Parliament raising duties on foreign refined sugar imported by the colonies. It was important because the act was designed to focus on and prevent the colonial merchants and manufacturers from smuggling non-British goods to avoid taxes by Parliament -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was an act of the British Parliament that exacted revenue from the American colonies by imposing a stamp duty on newspapers and legal and commercial documents. It is important because the money taken in from this was used to protect the American frontier near the Appalachian Mountains -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act required the colonies to house British soldiers in barracks provided by the colonies. It's important because it's not only about human rights, philosophy, but fairness. The Americans were forced to have their privacy invaded with soldiers living in their homes whether they wanted them to or not -
Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act was an act of the Parliament of Great Brtiain that accompanied the repeal of the Stamp Act and the changing and lesseening of the Sugar Act. It's important because it's talking about how they were doing this for hte good of the empire. -
Formation of Sons of Liberty
Sons of Liberty were group of people called "The Loyal Nine" that who were preparing for agitation against the Stamp Act. Later as they began to grow, they started calling themselves the Sons of Liberty. It's imporant because they tried everything to delcare their independence. Just like we did on July, 4th -
Townshend Act
The Townshend Acts imposed duties on lead, glass, paints, paper, and tea imported into the colonies. They hoped that this act would defray the imperial expenses in the colonies but many Americans viewed the taxation as an abuse of power. It's important because the taxes helped reignite anger in the colonies against England -
Tea Act
The Tea Act was passed by Parliament on May 10, 1773 that launches the final spark to the revolutionary movement in Boston. It was designed to prop up the East India Company in which was floundering finanacially and burdened with eighteen million pounds of unsold tea. Tea was to be shipped directly to the colonies and sold at a bargaining price. -
Coercive Acts
The Coercive Acts were a series of laws relating Britain's colonies in North America. It was passed by the British Parliament in 1774, after the Boston Tea Party. It's important because it including several other acts allowing Massachusetts to receive sympathy and respect from the other colonies. -
1sr Continental Congress
The 1st Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies that met on September 5 to October 26 at Carpenter's Hall. It's important because it showed the gathering and seriousness of the colonies and how they worked together under a common cause. -
Shot Heard Round the World
"Shot heard rounf the world' was a phrase referring to several historical events including the opening of the American Revolutionary War and the assassination of Archduke Franz. Its important because it showed the "not going back" method and how those that were present were serious about the events -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill was the first important battle of the American War of Independence fought on a hill (Breed's Hill) in Charlestown, Massachusetts. It's impotant because although the Americans lost, they still regained a confidence boost -
2nd Continental Congress
The 2nd Continental Congress was a convention od delegates from the thirteen colonies that met during the summer of 1775 soon after warfare in the American Revolutionary War had begun. It's important because it acted as the national government and governed the colonies during war -
Publication of Common Sense
Common Sense is a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that was published in 1776. It's very very important because it inspired people to be brave, stand up for what they believed in, and inspired the thirteen colonies to declare and fight for independence. -
Independence Day
Independence Day is the day that we represent the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States becoming an independent nation. The Continental Congress decided to declare independence on July 2nd, 1776 but on July 4th, 1776 the Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was the turning point of the Revolutionary war and was actually two wars. It was an easy victory but took many days. This battle(s) was important because it assured critical international recognition and aided and helped secure the independence of the United States -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were an agreement among the thriteen colonies serving as the first constitution. It was important because although the articles were a great thing to have, it wasn't enough to run a full effective government -
Valley Forge
Valley Forge was a military camp in Southeastern Pennslyvania where the American Continental Army spent the winter during the Revolutionary War. Starvation, disease, malnutrition, and more killed over 2,500 American soldiers by the end of February. Valley Forge is important because the soliders who emerged from Valley Forge went off to defeat the British in an european-style battle. So, in life you may be at your lowest point but you'll always get back on your feet stronger -
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Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion was an armed uprising in MA. Daniel Shay led 4,000 rebels in rising up against perceived economic injustices by MA. Shay's Rebellion was important because it made the elites realize that the states had too much power and that the central government didn't have enough power. -
Continential Convention
The Continential Convention was a gathering to simply discuss the purpose of writing a new constitution or revising an existing one. It was important because the Convention was held to fix the problems when trying to gain independence from Britain. -
Constitution
The Constitution is a document containing the fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or organization is acknowledged to be governed. It's important because it holds the country together with laws and rules that some people may and may not like. -
Great Compromise
The Great Compromise was an agreement that large and small states reached during the Continential Convention. It described the legislative structure and representation that each state would have under the United States -
The Federalist Papers
The Federalist Papers were 85 letters written and published in several New York State newspapers to persuade New York voters to ratify the propsed constitution. They are important because they helped persuade the State of New York to ratify the constitution by explaining the benefits of belonging to the union and are used as a guide today to understand the founders' intent for each article of the constitution -
Whiskey Rebellion
Whiskey Rebellion is the revolt of settlers in Western Pennslyvania against a federal excise tax on Whiskey. It's important because it showed the need for a national guard to maintain order and establish it's right of federal government -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party is mainly described as the desruction of tea in Boston. They raided on ships and dumped several hundreds of tea into the harbor. The BostonTea Party was important because of the responses after the event. Britain was furious and needed to impose a "punishment" for the American colonies.
