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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
Magna Carta is latin for Great Charter. The document was signed in 1215 by King John of England. It was written by a group of barons trying to protect their property. Its purpose was to stop taxation that wasnt approved and guarenteed a fair trial before the property or possesion was taken from the person. It had many other promises between the king and his subjects. -
Virginia House of Burgesses
The Virginia House of Burgesses was the first representative assembly that brought order in the colonies. The members consisted of the governer and his counsil, six representatives called "Burgesses." It was an experiment on the democratic government. The members were voted in and another vote was called for when a member moved to a higher office. It was the first and most successful form of government. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was signed be 41 English colonists while on the Mayflower. The 41 men repsenented all the pilgrim families. It was an agreement to abide by the new governments laws in exchange for protection. In addition to that, the pilgrams also agreed to choose their own leaders and make their own laws. This contract bound the Pilgrams together. -
English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights set a clear guideling of what a ruler could and could not do. (1) Monarchs dont have complete control. (2) A monarch must have permission to suspend laws, levy taxes, or maintain an army. (3) The monarch cannot interfere with elections or debates. (4) The people have a right to a fair trial. (5) The people should not be subject to crule and unusual punishment. -
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French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was fought over land in Pennsylvania and Ohio between the French and the British. However other European countries did get involved. The war went to Great Britain who then gained complete control and the French were driven out. Because the French were no longer there the Colonists didnt need the British to protect them anymore. -
Stamp Act
King George III raised the taxes on tea, suger, glass, paper, and other items. He also required the colonists to now pay tax on legal documents, pamphlets, newspapers, dice, and playing cards. The taxes were in place to help pay for war. The actual cost wasnt very high but now the colonists felt the tax was just for raising money. -
Boston Tea Party
It happened in 1773 after King George III took the throne. King George III taxed the people on everything from legal documents to dice and playing cards. As the taxes increased the resentment of the people grew also. Soon there began to be political protests and a group of Mohawk dressed colonists dumped 342 chests of British tea into the Boston Harbor. This was known and the Boston Tea Party. -
First Continental Congress
The first Continental Congress was held in Philadelphia at Carpenter's Hall. The purpose was to organize resistance to the Intolerable Acts. Representitives came from all the different colonies except Georgia. Some leaders included, George Washington, John and Samuel Adems, and Patrick Henry. Together they tried to difine americia's rights, and put limits on parlements power. -
Lexington and Concord
It was "the shot heard around the world" because this was the battle that began the Revolutionary war. It was between the British and the Colonists. The Brittish ended up losing about 100 soldiers while the Colonists lost 54. Even with the losses this was a great victory because it showed that America would not tolerate unjust behavior. There were still many conflicts at the start of the americian revolution. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress had 65 delegats, some new and some returning. Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Hankock were present. Together they all decided to break away form Great Britian. Another topic discussed was if they were going to print paper money. This was the most importaint meeting in the history of the U.S.. It was here that the Declaration of Independance was made and signed. -
Declaration of Independence
John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman were all part of the committee that wrote the Declaration of Independence. It was Thomas Jefferson that did the Draft because of his known skills as a writer. After the document was passed by Congress, 56 of the delegates signed it. This famous writing brought ideas together to proclaim the freedom of the colonies. Its purpose was to bring new principles and justify the revolution. -
Articals of Confederation
Richard Henry Lee was the one who proposed the plan of the Articals of Confederation. The plan was for a simple central government. It had one delegate from each state manage the government when congress was not together. Instead of a federal court system, Congress was to settle anything between states. Only one vote each state could have, no matter size or the population. -
Peace Treaty with Great Britian
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Commerce/Slave Trade Compromise
This compromise settled a dispute about commerce and slave trade. The states in the north wanted the government to have complete controle over trade, while the states in the south feared the north's intrests would hurt them with their trade agreeements. The decision was made that slaves could not be banned until 1808. Also Congress could regulate the interstate and foreign commerce, but could not force export taxes. -
Shays's Rebellion
Shays's Rebellion was the result of the economic troubles at the time. What the men were fighting for was laws that through the depression would allow them to keep their farms. It was Daniel Shays that led the rebellion. After not getting help form the justices, 1200 men then went to the federal arsenal at Springfield. In the end it was the Massachusetts militia that put an end to the rebellion, but it had already frightened the American leaders. -
Virginia Plan
15 resolutions were introduced by Edmund Randolph, that became the Virginia plan. This plan was based on three government principles. (1) A strong Legislature. (2) A strong Executive. (3) A national Judiciary. -
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Constitutional Convention
The delegates of the Constitutional Convention agreed to abandon the former government and start again. All wanted a limited and representative form of government. Also the power of the government should be divided into several branches. This was to insure that the government didnt have complete control over each of the states. -
New Jersey Plan
Delegates led by William Patterson of New Jersey made a counterproposal. They wanted to keep the Artical of Confederaton. This would however, give congress more control. They clamed the equality that was given with the artical, would be taken away with the Convention. Patterson's plan was to just ammend the artical. -
3/5 Compromise
This compromise was to dicide how many representatives each state could have in a house. A third of the people in the southern states were inslaved, and their states wanted them counted as free people so they could have more representation but not counted on for levying taxes. The northern states didnt want this. They wanted the enslaved people counted on for taxes but not representation. -
Connecticut Compromise
Called the Connecticut Compromise because it was the state that Roger Sherman was from. It had two legisltive branch parts. (1) A house of representitives was based on population. (2) A Senate that had two members would elect senators. This gave states with a larger population an advantage. -
Rhode Island Ratifies
The constitution became law because Rhode Island voted in favor of it. However New Hampshire was the 9th state to vote in favor out of the 13. -
The Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights is the first ten ammendments.
