-
The First Colony is Founded
This is important because it is the first colony, Virginia, that was founded with the first permanent English settlement in North America at Jamestown. -
The Pilgrims sign the Mayflower Compact
The document was signed by the 41 male passenger (out of 102 passengers). The compact resulted from the fear that some of the members of the company might leave the group and settle on their own. The Mayflower Compact bound the signers into a body politic for the purpose of forming a government and pledged them to abide by any laws and regulations that would later be estahblished. -
Constituiton of Carolina
John Locke wrote the Fundamental Constitutions as a model for the government of Carolina. -
The Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights, prohibited a standing army in peacetime, except with the consent of Parliament, The English Bill of Rights also included such guarantees as the right to a fair trial, as well as freedom from excessive bail and from cruel and unusual punishment. This is important because the billof rights protects a lot of freedoms. -
The Albany Plan
In 1754, the British Board of Trade called a meeting of seven of the northern colonies at Albany. The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss the problems of colonial trade and the danger of attacks by the French and their Native American allies. This is important because it made war and peace with the Native Americans, regulate trade with them, tax, and collect customs duties. -
The Stamp Act is Passed
This is important because the law required the use of tax stamps on all legal documents, on certain business agreements, and on newspapers. -
The Boston Massacre
British troops in Boston fired on a jeering crowd, killing five, in what came to be known as the Boston Massacre. This is important because this led to the Revolutionary War. -
The Tea Act is Passed
A group of men disguised as Native Americans, boarded three tea ships in Boston Harbor. They broke open the chests and dumped the ship's cargo into the sea to protest British control of the tea trade. This is important because they were trying to get their independence. -
The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia
The battles of Lexington and Concord had been fought three weeks earlier, on April 19th. This is important because the American Revolution was the political upheavel during the last 18th century. -
The Declaration of Independence is signed.
The members of the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration is also composed of four parts: a Preamble, a Declaration of Natural Rights, a List of Grievances, and a Resolution of Independence. This is important because it was invoke to protect the rights of individuals and marginalized groups.
