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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
It heavily influenced the United states and the Constitution. In England the Magna Carta was the first government statement saying that all people (even the king) are subject to the law equally. Freedom of unlawful searches, having the right to a fast trial, the right to have a jury in criminal and civil cases, protecting of the loss of life, liberty, or property without due process of law are influenced by the Magna Carta to the Bill of Rights. -
Britain Taxes the Colonists
Britan was in debt so they placed a series of taxes on the colonists, the Stamp Act and the Townshend Act. The Stamp Act of 1765 required that stamps be purchased to put on public documents. The 1767 Townshend Acts taxed essential materials like paint, paper, glass, lead, and tea. -
Boston Tea Party
Colonists were upset because they were being taxed without representation so they began protesting in 1773. In December some dressed like Indians and dumped imported tea off a British ship. This was one of the causes of the American Revolution -
Battle at Lexington & Concord
There were years of tension between the colonists and the British leading up to this battle. The night of April 18, 1775, a large group of British troops marched to a nearby Concord from Boston to seize an arms cache. Paul Revere and a militia of the colonial men confronted them and this caused one of many battles that lead to the independence of the colonists. -
Approval of the Final Draft of the Declaration of Independence
A list of grievances to the king of England and was influenced by John Locke and his ideas of unalienable rights. On that day 56 men courageously met to sign it even though it was an act of treason punishable by hanging. It is important because it led to independence from the king. -
Battles of Saratoga
On September 17, 1777, was the first battle of Saratoga and the Americans lead by Horatio Gates took a small loss but at the second battle several weeks later on October 7th they won, the British had to retreat, then surrender later on. This victory convinced the French to become an ally. -
Battle of Yorktown
George Washington commanding 17,000 troops of French and Continental began the siege of the Battle of Yorktown. They fought the British General Charles Cornwallis and his 9,000 troops. It took 3 weeks of nonstop attacks to get the British to retreat and surrender which ended the revolution. -
Writing of the Constitution
The Constitution made a basic structure of the government. This is important because it made a government that gave power to the people, and allows us to elect our own representatives (We the People). It was written during the Philadelphia Convention (now known as the constitutional convention) which was May 25th to September 17, 1787. -
The Bill of Rights
When the Constitution was made many people felt that it didn't protect individual rights, so when the Continental Congress met again on September 25, 1789 they added 10 amendments which are known as the Bill of Rights. It is important because it gives the people protected rights that are still in effect today. -
Attack on North at Fort Sumter, SC
The issue of slavery was brought up when Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860. Several states refused to take part of the Union than to negotiate slavery as an issue so they had to turn all property (like military property), of the United States over to the united states and all United States troops had to abandon installations. Lincoln tried to supply Fort Sumter but since the North and South already had issues this caused the battle that lasted from April 12- April 14, 1861. -
Emancipation Proclamation
At the third year of the Civil War President Lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation which said, "that all persons held as slaves" in states rebelling "are, and henceforward shall be free". This only targeted states that didn't previously negotiate slavery so it didn't change slavery in the other states. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was from July 1-July 3, 1863. This battle was considered the most important engagement of the American Civil War and the bloodiest battle in the United States. The North defeated the South and that changed the course of the Civil War to better the Union. -
Gettysburg Address
Abraham Lincoln delivered the 272-word address near the battlefield to honor those that died. His 2-minute speech became the most famous in American history. It supported equality, claimed to the rebirth of freedom to bring equality to all American citizens, and explained the struggle of the Civil War to maintain the Union. -
Battle of Appomattox Court House
The last battle of the 4 year Civil War. Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered near the Appomattox Court House, Virginia. This brought the Civil War to an end. -
The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
Five days after Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered John Wilkes Booth (famous actor and Confederate) assassinated Lincoln.
