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1215
Magna Carta
Written by the Nobles, it protected them and upheld their privileges and authority. It was a Government Document. The purpose of this document was to limit the king/queen's power, have equal and fair treatment before the law, and give certain rights to all land owners. -
Mayflower Compact
Written by 41 MEN on the ship. It was an agreement between individuals. The purpose of this document was to make sure that the laws were made just and equal and also for the general good of the colony. The compact made a direct democracy within the colony. All men would vote, and the majority would rule. -
English Bill of Rights
Written by Parliament. Government Document. In document, it is stated that monarch would not be able to suspend Parliament's laws, have special courts, raise army, or impose taxes without Parliament's approval. B.O.R. also said that the members of Parliament would be freely elected and given free speech during meetings. The document also states that every citizen will have the right to a fair trail by a jury for court cases, and that there would be no tolerance for cruel or unusual punishments. -
Cato's Letters
Written by John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon. 144 articles written over a 3 year period. Liberal Writing. Articles were published in London Journal and British Journal. -
Mercantilism
Mercantilism is the theory that a country should sell more to other countries than it buys. For this to work the colonies had to be a source for cheap and raw materials. It was required by Parliament that the colonies sold raw materials. -
French and Indian War
A long and costly war gaining French territory in North America. -
Stamp Act
This act requires colonists to put expensive tax stamps on all newspapers and legal documents. -
Declaratory Act
Passed by Parliament. Stated that Parliament could tax and make decisions for the colonies at all times "in all cases". -
Townshend Act
Set of laws that imposed new taxes on goods being imported to the colonies. Simple everyday goods such as glass, paper, tea, and lead. Things that the colonists needed but couldn't produce themselves. -
Boston Massacre
A riot that initially was only a street fight between American colonists and one lone soldier, but then quickly turned into a crazy and gruesome mass murder. -
Tea Act
This measure passed by Parliament gave the British East India Company to ship tea to the colonies without having to pay most of the taxes. Also, let them bypass colonial merchants and sell tea to the shopkeepers at very low prices. This made the East India Company tea much cheaper that the other tea, this gave the British company an advantage over the colonial merchants. -
Boston Tea Party
When a group of colonists dressed up as Native Americans and dumped 342 chests of British tea into the Boston Harbor to protest the taxes. -
Intolerable/Coercive Act
When a group of colonists dressed up as Native Americans and dumped 342 chests of tea into the Boston harbor to protest the taxes, Parliament passed the Coercive Acts, called Intolerable Acts by the colonists. The Coercive Acts restricted the rights of colonists, this included the right to trial by jury. -
Declaration of Independence
Written mostly by Thomas Jefferson. The DOC explained why USA needed to be a free nation. Its argued that the British gov. didn't look after the colonists interests. -
First Continental Congress
It was assembled because the Americans started to demand more rights. They were separated from Britain by a large ocean (more than 3000 miles) and pretty much left on their own. They were self-governed and they took on more power and responsibility for themselves. -
Second Continental Congress
Philadelphia. Not all of the congress members agreed with independence. Some of them believed that they could never win a war fighting against Great Britain. Others of them were still holding loyal to their home country. Many months were spent deciding on the best course of action. -
Lexington & Concord
Two battles in Massachusetts. First two battles of the Revolutionary War. Up until this point, most of the colonists thought of themselves as loyal subjects of Great Britain. Then when the British soldiers started shooting at them and their fellow Americans, they started to question the whole situation and their involvement with Britain. -
Common Sense
Written by Thomas Paine. Pamphlet. Paine wanted complete independence from Britain. Purpose was to explain arguments for independence to the common people in a way that they could understand.
