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1215
Magna Carta
King John of England signs the Magna Carta which moves the English government from rule of man to rule of law. -
Jamestown's House of Burgesses
The first democratically-elected legislative body in the British American colonies -
Mayflower Compact
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Petition of Right was signed
Required monarchs to obtain Parliamentary approval before levying new taxes -
English Bill of Rights
Free of speech and protection from cruel and unusual punishment guaranteed -
Sugar Act
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Stamp Act
The first direct tax on paper goods and legal documents. -
Stamp Act was repealed
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Boston Massacre
British soldiers in Boston opened fire on a group of American colonists killing five men. -
Boston Tea Party
American colonists dumped British Tea into the harbor. -
Revolutionary War
Began on April 19, 1775. It continued on for the next 8 years and we eventually won our independence from England. -
Declaration of Independence was signed
Blamed King for a variety of issues in the colonies -
The Articles of Confederation were ratified
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Shay's Rebellion
Massachusetts farmers rebelled over prospect of losing land; showed that the greatest weakness of the Articles of Confederation was that they were incredibly weak. -
Northwest Ordinance
Established a plan for settling the Northwest Territory. -
The Constitutional Convention
The point of the event was decide how America was going to be governed. -
The Federalists Papers
Series of essays that defended the Constitution and tried to reassure Americans that the states would not be overpowered by the federal government. -
Judiciary Act was signed into law by President George Washington
Established a federal court system -
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Dual Federalism
Both state and national governments were equal authorities operating within their own spheres of influence -
Bill of Rights Ratified
First 10 Amendments. It spells out Americans’ rights in relation to their government. It guarantees civil rights and liberties to the individual—like freedom of speech, press, and religion. It sets rules for due process of law and reserves all powers not delegated to the Federal Government to the people or the States. And it specifies that “the enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.” -
11th Amendment
Makes states immune from suits from out-of-state citizens and foreigners not living within the state borders; lays the foundation for state sovereign immunity -
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Chief Justice John Marshall
Began to expand the power of the Supreme Court -
Marbury v. Madison
Power of judicial review -
12th Amendment
Allows the President to choose Vice President -
McCulloch v. Maryland
Defined the scope of the U.S. Congress's legislative power and how it relates to the powers of American state legislatures. -
Gibbons v. Ogden
Supreme Court case that established that only Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce -
Democratic-Republican party split into today’s two major parties—Democrats, Republicans
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Dred Scott v. Sanford
A landmark decision of the US Supreme Court in which the Court held that the US Constitution was not meant to include American citizenship for black people -
Morrill Act
Granted large tracts of land to states; states sold land and used money for colleges -
13th Amendment
Abolishes slavery, and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime -
14th Amendment
Defines citizenship, contains the Privileges or Immunities Clause, the Due Process Clause, and the Equal Protection Clause, and deals with post–Civil War issues -
15th Amendment
Prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race, color or previous condition of servitude -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Ruled segregation was legal as long as the facilities were equal; “Separate but equal” doctrine -
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Cooperative Federalism
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16th Amendment
Gave Congress authority to set a federal income tax -
17th Amendment
Allows for direct (by the people) election of Senators -
18th Amendment
Prohibited the manufacturing or sale of alcohol within the United States
(Repealed December 5, 1933, via the 21st Amendment) -
19th Amendment
Prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on sex (not really for everyone though at this time) -
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The New Deal Era
A series of programs, public work projects, financial reforms, and regulations enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the United States -
20th Amendment
Changes the dates on which the terms of the President and Vice President, and of members of Congress, begin and end, to January 20 and January 3 respectively. States that if the President-elect dies before taking office, the Vice President–elect is to be inaugurated as President. -
21th Amendment
Repeals the 18th Amendment and makes it a federal offense to transport or import intoxicating liquors into U.S. states and territories where such is prohibited by law -
United States v. Darby
Upheld Fair Labor Standards Act; Commerce Clause allows Congress to regulate employment conditions -
Korematsu v. the United States
Upheld involuntary internment of ethnically Japanese American citizens -
22nd Amendment
Limits the number of times a person can be elected President. -
Brown v. Board
Ruled segregation is illegal -
Cooper v. Aaron
States cannot nullify decisions of the federal courts. -
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Creative Federalism
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23rd Amendment
Grants the District of Columbia electors in the Electoral College -
Great Society
A set of domestic programs in the United States launched by Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964–65 -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. -
24th Amendment
Prohibits the revocation of voting rights due to the non-payment of a poll tax or any other tax -
Miranda v. Arizona
Expanded rights of people accused of crimes; “Miranda Rights” -
Loving v. Virginia
Struck down all state laws banning interracial marriage -
Age Discrimination in Employment Act
Protects applicants and employees of 40+ years old from discrimination based on age in hiring, promotion, discharge, compensation, privileges, etc. of employment. -
25th Amendment
Addresses succession to the presidency and establishes procedures both for filling a vacancy in the office of the vice president and responding to presidential disabilities -
Tinker v. Des Moines
Schools couldn’t prevent students from protesting the Vietnam War -
26th Amendment
Prohibits the denial of the right of US citizens eighteen years of age or older to vote on account of age -
War Powers Resolution
President must consult with Congress before sending troops -
U.S. v. Nixon
The President is not above the law. -
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New Federalism
President Reagan emphasizes cutting back federal government's role and increasing efficiency -
Americans with Disabilities Act
Prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. -
27th Amendment
Delays laws affecting Congressional salary from taking effect until after the next election of representatives -
The Department of Homeland Security is formed
Responsible for ensuring the safety and security of the United States from terrorist attacks and other disasters -
District of Columbia v. Heller
Ruled the 2nd Amendment protects an individual's right to keep and bear arms for self-defense -
Obergefell v. Hodges
Ruled states must grant and recognize same-sex marriage
