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Jan 28, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was signed by force, by King John in 1215. It established a limited government. A limited government made the power of the government or monarch, limited, not absolute. It proved protection againts unjust punishment and the loss of natural rights, except according to law. The king agreed, under the Magna Carta that some taxes couldn't be levied without popular concent. -
Virginia House of Burgess
The first legislative assembly in America gathered for 6 day meeting at the church on Jamestown Island, Virginia. Acouncil was chiosen by the Virginia Company, met as a sort of upper house, while 22 elected representatives met as the House of Burgesses. When put together the House of Burgesses and the Council would be the Virginia General Assembly. The first session didn't accompoish much, and was cut short due to an outbreak in malaria. The governor ruled arbitrarily and allowed no dissent. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflwer Compact was signed by the Pilgrims. It't the first example of colonial plans for self-government, with many more to come. The Mayflower Compact was written by 41 men, each representing a Pilgrim family, in the small cabin of the ship. They had decided on rules to govern themselves in the new land. The Pilgrims also decided that the leaders and the laws would be decided by themselves. -
English Bill of Rights
King James II was removed from the throne and Parliment crowned William III and Mary II. Parliment also passed a document that would be very important to the American Colonies later on. This document was the English Bill of Rights. It set clear limilt on what a ruler could and couldn't do. It was applied to American Colonists, who were still considered English subjects, and the people in England. There were elements from the Magna Carta incorporated into the English Bill of Rights. -
French and Indian War
not actual event, just the picture -
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French and Indian War
The war threatened the hood Britain had on the continent. The war had begun as a strugglebetween the British and the French over the lands arounf western Pennsylvania and Ohio. Several other European countries had become involved by 1756. Great Britain won the war in 1763 and now had complete control of the what was to become the eastern United States. The French had been driven out. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was put in place by King George III in order to deal with the American colonies. In order to pay for the French and Indian War, taxes weve levied on tea, sugar, glass, paper and other products. This was the first direct tax on the colonies, which forced them to pay taxes on all legal documents, pamphlets, newspapers and even dice and playing cards. There were also laws passed by Parliment aloowing Great Britain to control the trade in the colonies to only benefit Britain. -
Boston Tea Party
"The Destruction of the Tea in Boston," was a political protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston. They disguied themseles as American Indians. The entire supply of tea was destroyed. The American boycott of tea carrying a tax the Americans had not authorized. The ships were boarded and the tea was thrown over into the Boston Harbor. -
First Continental Congress
Virginia and Massachusetts called a meeting of all the coloies prompted by the Intolorable Acts. The meeting was held in Pennsylvania. All colonies except for Georgia, met for the First Continental Congress. Some of the important leaders attended, such as Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, Richard Henry Lee, and George Washington.They debated about what to do about Great Britain and decided to impose an embargo. This embargo prohibited trade with the British and to stop the use of British goods. -
Lexington and Concord
George III firmly announced that, "The New England governments are in a state of rebellion," He also said "Blows must decide whether they are to be subject to this country or independent." The British Redcoats fought with colonial minutemen at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. The is battle was later called "the shot heard 'round the world." This battle was the first battle of the Revolutionary War. -
Second Continental Congress
Delegates from all 13 colonies met in Philedelphia for the second Continental Congress. The men assumed the powers of a centeral government, with John Hancock as president. They voted to organize an army and navy and to issue money. George Washington was made the commander the army. They had no constitutional authority, but served as the colonies government through the war. -
Decleration of Independance
John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingson, and Roger Sherman were chosen to prepare a writen declaration of independance.Thomas Jefferson, who was knows for his writing skills, was chosen by the comittee to write the draft. The edited draft was submitted to Congress on June 28 On July 2, 1776. Congress approved the resolution and the Colonies had officially broken from Great Britain. Congress approved the final draft of the Decleration of Independance on July 4, 1776. -
Articles of Confederation
A comittee, that was appointed by Congress, in 1777 to present a plan called the Articles of Confederation. The articles pretty much continued the structure and operation of government as established. The Articles of Confederation gave Congress power, but made a weak national government. The Conferedion accomplished important tasks such as, the establishment of a fair policy for the development of the lands west ofAppalachians.Another thing accomplished was the peace treaty with Great Britain. -
Peace Treaty with Great Britain
The treaty was signed on September 3, by the United States and Great Britain. Great Britain also signed separate agreements with France and Spain. The treaty put an end to the American Revolutionary War. The treaty was signed at the Hotel d'York in Paris, France. The American Congress of the Confederation ratified the Treaty of Paris on January 14, 1784. -
Shay's Rebellion
The United States was facing economic troubles, they had serious money problems. Farmers were armed and made many courts close in order to keep their farms and keep them open. Daniel Shays was a former captain, in the Revolutionary Army, and led a group of men that closed a state supreme court in Massachesetts. Their please brought no help and Shays gathered 1200 men. Henry Knox, who was to become the nation's first secretary of war, followed the inceasing number of angry Americans. -
Constitutional Convention
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Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention was called to address problems in governing the United States of America. The Convention was intended to revise the Articles of Confederation. One of their goals was to was to create a new government instead of fixing the existing one. George Washington was elected to preside over the convention. The result of the Convention was the creation of the United States Constitution. -
Virginia Plan
Edward Randolph, a man from Virginia, introduced 15 resolutions that had been drafted by James Maddison. These 15 resolutions became known as the Virginia Plan. A government based on 3 prinipals was proposed. These 3 principals were: (1) a strong national legislature with 2 chambers. The lower one to be chosen by people. The upper chosen by the lower; (2) a strong national executive to be chosen by the national legislature; and (3) a national judiciary to be appointed by the legislature. -
3/5 Compromise
There was a disagrement over how to decide how many represantatives each state would get to have in the house. Almist 1/3 of the people in the Southern United States were African Americans who were enslaved. The states wanted the slaves to be counted he same as anyone else in order to give the Southern states more representation for voting. The Southern states didn't want the slaves to be counted for the taxes. The Northern states wanted the slaves to be counted for taxes, but not for voting. -
New Jersey Plan
William Patterson, a man for New Jersey, led all the delegates from the small states and made a counterproposal. The New Jersey Plan. This plan called for keeping the major feature of the Articles of confederaton, government based. The major feature of the Articles was tunamical legislature, with one vote for each state. Coungress would be strengthened by giving it the power to regulate trade and impose taxes. An executive, consisting of more than one person, would be elected by congress. -
Connecticut Compromise
Roger Sherman played a key role on the committee. The plan was adopted after much debating. The compromise suggested that the legeslative branch has 2 parts: (1) a House of Representatives, witch has state representation based on population. All the revenue laws would begin in this house; and (2) a Senate, that has 2 members from each state. The state legislatures would elect the senators. -
Rhode Islansd Ratifies
Rhode Island became the 13th state to enter the Union. Rhode Island was the only state not to send a representative to the Constitutional Convention. In order to ratify the constitution nine states, or a three-quarters majority, were needed.The Constitution became the official governing document of the United States. Benjamin Bourne, Ther states only Representative arrived in Philadelphia fashionably late to the First Congress. -
The Bill of Rights
The name for the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. These amendments guarantee a number of personal freedoms. They also limit the government's power in judicial and other proceedings. The amendments were introduced by James Madison. They were adopted by the House of Representatives on August 21, 1789. -
Commerce/Slave Trade Compromise
This compromise resolved the controversary over slave trade and commerce. In the north , the states wanted the government to have control over the trading involve with other nations. Southerners depended greatly on the agricultural exports. It was a fear of the Southerners that the North might have enough votes in Congress to create trade agreements that would hurt them. The delegates determined that slave trade couldn't be banned until 1808. Congress was forbidden to force export taxes.
