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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta signed
King John of England was forced into signing the document, as it majorly reduced his power as king and became the basis for English people's rights. The Magna Carta was a collection of 37 laws written by Archbishop Stephan Langton. The document is also referred to as the Great Charter and was on of the dicuments our Bill of Rights was modeled after. http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/magna-carta.htm -
Mayflower Compact Signed
The Mayflower Compact was signed aboard the Mayflower in Provincetown Harbor in the pilgrims efforts to establish a government until a more official one could be drafted in england declaring them to be self-governed. This was necessary after the decision was made to settle in New England instead of Northern Virginia. -
Formation of the New England Confederation
The federation consisted of two delegates from Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Haven, and Plymouth, It was established in May 1643 by delegates from those four Puritan colonies. The formation of this group was to solve:trade, boundary, and religious disputes. But also to create a united defense. -
The French and Indian War begins
The war lasted seven years and unofficially began on July 3rd, 1754 at the Battle of Fort Necessity. -
Albany Plan of Union Announcement
It was a plan to place the North American colonies under a more centralized government. Plan was acceped by representatives from seven of the colonies. Even through the plan was never implimented, it was the first plan to portry all of the colonies as a whole, united under one government. -
The Great Compromise Agreed To
The Great compromised, promoted by Roger Sherman provided that representation was based on population. They also reached the conclusion that slaves were equal to 3/5 of a free man. -
Royal Proclamation (1763)
Proclamation made by the KIng of England prohibiting colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mnts, This lack of respect from King George for the colonists efforts in the French and Indian war caused upset -
Sugar Act
One of the many taxes placed on the coloinsts by Great Britian. It was the first tax that the colonists started to pay to the crown. -
Stamp Act
Prime Minister Greenville imposed the Stamp Act to pay for the costs of sending, outfitting, and maintaining troops in the colonies. It was placed on about 50 trade items. -
Stamp Act Congress
It was the First Congress of the Colonies. The meeting was held in New York City. There was elected representatives there from the colonies to make a unified protest against new British taxation. -
Townshend Acts
Tax on sugar, stamps, tea and other items. -
Boston Massacre
Series of arguements between colonists and British soldiers that lasted several days. It was sparked by the colonists exasperation with Britsh control. -
Boston Tea Party
Colonists jumped aboard a British ship and dumped the tea into the Boston Harbor. They were upset with Britian trying to "buy them off" for no representation. -
First Continental Congress
Meeting of colonial delegates in Philadelphia to discuss how they should respond to the Intolerable Acts. -
Congress Meets for the 1st Time
The first Congress met in Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia, from September 5th, to October 26th, 1774. Every colony apart from Georgia has representatives in attendance. -
Patrick Henry "Give Me Liberty"
The speech was given at St. John’s Church in Richmond, VA. It convinced the Virginia House of Burgesses to pass a resolution delivering the Virginia troops to the Revolutionary War. -
Midnight Ride of Paul Revere
Paul Revere and others rode to Lexington and Concord to warn the colonists of the coming British attack. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The first battles of the American Revolution. The colonists were victorious. -
Fort Ticonderoga
Benedict Arnold, Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys of Vermont, attacked the fort, surprising and capturing the sleeping British. It gave the Continental Army weapons to be used in future battles. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
A Britain victory, however they suffered many casuallties that would make it impossible to continue suffering continual large loses. -
"Common Sense" Published
Common Sense, by Thomas Paine, challenged the British government and the royal monarchy. It was the first work to ask for independence from Great Britain. -
British Evacuate Boston
The evacuation of British forces from Boston followed the Siege of Boston, which was early in the Revolutionary War, when the colonists had cannons that they had taken from Ft. Ticonderoga, aimed at the British fleet anchored in the Boston Harbor, -
Second Continental Congress Meets
Delegates from the Colonies met in Philadelphia, PA. The second Congress managed the colonial war efforts, and moved towards independence by adopting the Declaration of Independence. -
Declaration of Independence Announced
Document was formally announced on July 4th. Severard all colonial ties with Britian. -
"The Crisis" Published
The series of phamplets describe the beginnings of the American Revolution and life of Thomas Paine. The sixteen pamphlets released between 1777 and 1783, make up "the Crisis". -
Washington Captures Trenton
The Battle took place after Washington and his men crossed the Delaware River north of Trenton, New Jersey. They suprised the Hessian force the day after christmans, gaining a victory and a boost of morale. -
British Defeated at Saratoga
The Battle was the turning point of the Revolution. The British's plan failed as Burgoyne reached Albany and faced the American army. The Americans captured Burgoyne's troops. The Americans won the battle -
Articles of Confederation Signed
The Atricles of Confedertion were in sucsession to the ratification of the Declaration of Independence, as the first set of laws or framework for the new union. -
Winter at Valley Forge, PA
Conintental army spent the winter here beign trained in traditonal style of European warfare. -
Benedict Arnold plans found out
Benidect plotted to surrender fort in New York to the British forces. But his plan was found out, and then he changed sides and became a British General. -
John Paul Jones defeats the Serapis
He was a sailor/ the first well-known naval fighter during the Revolution.He is known for when he won and captured the British naval ship, The Serapis. -
Cornwallis Surrenders
After a three week seige at Yorktown, Va, Lord Cornwallis surrendered to the continental army. -
Newburgh Conspiracy
The war had basically ended but the disconnect between the government and the military was becoming apparent.vSoon after an anonymous letter circulated among the officers in the camp at Newburgh, New York. It was a fiery appeal later known as the first Newburgh address. The unsigned document urged the officers that unless their demands were met, they should refuse to disband when the war oficially ended. -
Treaty of Paris (1783) Signed
The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, between the American colonies and Great Britain, ended the American Revolution and declared the United States as an independent nation. Treaty wsa named after the city it was signed in. -
Treaty of Paris (1763)
Marks the end of the Revolutionary War. The United States on one side, Great Britian on the other. Named after the city the document was signed in. -
Spain Closes Mississippi River
Peace Treaty declared that the navigation of the Mississippi, from the Gulf of Mexico, should be free and open to the people of Great Britain and of the United States. But Spain did not regard it; and, as early as June, 1784, Don Jose Galvez, made known to the United States, that the treay does not apply to spain and the Mississipi remains closed to them. -
Land Ordinance of 1785
The Land Ordinance declared that sections of western land would be offered to the public at the minimum bidding price of one dollar per acre or a total of $640. Was a way to race desperately needed money for the state. -
Ordinance of Religious Freedom
The Ordinance of Religious Freedom, is a statement about the separation of church and state/ the freedom of religion. It was written by Thomas Jefferson and passed by the Virginia General Assembly on January 16, 1786, it is the forerunner of the first amendment protections for religious freedom. -
Shays' Rebellion
Led by Daniel Shays, a former Revolutionary War captain, now farmer in western MA. New tax law was established declaring that farmers had to pay taxes in gold and silver. Without the means, farmers lands got taken away. Led by Shays, farmers stormed the armory in Springfield, MA and threatened the state courts. -
Annapolis Convention
The Annapolis Convention was held at Annapolis, Maryland with 12 delegates from New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia. Delegates produced a report that expressed the hope that delegates or deputies would be authorized to examine areas broader than simply commercial trade. -
Constitutional Convention Opens
At the covention delegates drew up the Constitution of the United States. Propted by major economic problems and rebellions, and an urge for a stronger central government, the convention met in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia to amend the Articles of Confederation. All the states except Rhode Island responded to an invitation issued by the Annapolis Convention of 1786 to send delegates. -
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
In 1787, The Northwest Ordinance, Declared western land would be established as 5 new states.The ordinance said that, no more than five, states would be formed and civil rights and liberties be guaranteed, education encouraged, and
slavery and involuntary servitude be prohibited. This caused the westward movement of American settlers -
Federalists Papers apear
During the period when the Constitution was being drafter, the main arguments in favor of the document were published in the series of paprers written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay. -
Delaware Ratifies Constitution
Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution, and in that is was chort and to the point. Also, it led to the ratification by other states. -
New Hampshire Ratifies Constitution
New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify the constitution and with that, the constitution was officialy in effect.New Hampshire's ratification message included several suggested changes to the Constitution. -
Massachusetts Ratifies Constitution
Massachusetts was the sixth state to ratify the Constitution, and with that it sent a list of desired changes to the document to protect the rights of the state and the people. -
George Washington Elected President
Delegates from all colonies met in New York to count the ballots from the polls two weeks prior. After an unanimous vote, George wahington was declared the first President of the United States of America. -
Anti-Federalist articles appear
The arguments against the ratification of the Constitution were a collection of writings that became known as the Anti-Federalist Papers. They contained warnings of tyranny that weaknesses in the proposed Constitution did not adequately provide against, and the limitation of rights. -
Constitution Sent to States for Ratification
The United States Constitution, which was written in 1787 during the Philadelphia Convention was sent out to the stats for ratification. Eleven states ratified the document. -
Bill of Rights Sent to the States for Ratification
The United States congress approved tweleve amendments to the U.S Constitution, and sent them to the states for ratification. -
Bill of Rights Ratified
The United States congress approved 12 amendments to the Constitution, and on this date Virginia became the final state to agree to the ratification. The amendments were to protect the basic rights of U.S. citizens. and consist of the freedom of speech, press, assembly, and exercise of religion; the right to fair legal procedure and to bear arms, etc...
