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Jun 13, 1215
Magna Carta
Also known as the Great Charter, the Magna Carta included guarantees of fundamental rights as trial by jury and the protection against the arbitrary taking of life, liberty, or property. At the time, these protections were intended for the priveleged classes only however, over time they became available for all English people -
Petition of Right
When Charles 1 asked for more money in taxes, Parliament refused him until he signed the Petition of Right. The Petition limited the king's power in many ways. It demanded that the king no longer imprision/punish any person but by the judgement of his peers. It also challenged the idea of the divine of right of kings. -
English Bill of Rights
This document, prohibited a standing army in peactime, except with the consent of Parliament, and required that all elections be free. Today it has been built upon, changed, and added on to. -
Albany Plan of Union
The British Board of Trade called a meeting to discuss the problems of colonial and the dager of attacks by the French. Franklin then wanted to create a congress of delegates that soon later was turned down by both the colonies and the Crown. -
Boston Massacre
The Stamp Act of 1765, required the use of tax stamps on all legal documents.Because Parliament repealed the Stamp Act, colonists became extremely angry that soon turned into a mob and a boycott. On March 5, 1770, British troops began to fire and resulted into five deaths. -
Boston Tea Party
A group of disguised Native Americans, went aboard three tea ship in the Boston Harbor. They broke the chests open and dumped the cargo into the sea to protest the British control of the tea trade. -
First Continental Congress
Parliament passed a set of laws to punish the colonists for the troubles in Boston. As two months went by, the members dicussed the worsening situation and debated for action. The delegates then urged the colonies to refuse all trade and to enforce a boycott. -
Second Continental Congress
During the fall and winter of 1774-1775, the British government continued to refuse to compromise to the colonial policies. When the Second Continental Congress met, the Revolution had begun. -
Declaration of Independence
A year afther the Revolutionary War began, Congress named a committee of B.Franklin, J. Adams, R. Serman, R. Livingston, and T. Jefferson. On July 4, they adopted the Declaration of Independence which led to the birth of the United States. The 13 colonies became free and independent. -
Articles of Confederation
Established "a firm league of friendship" among the States. The States came togher "for thier common defense, security of their Liberties, and their mutual/general welfare." The ratification was needed first before the Aritcles could go into effect. -
Shay's Rebellion
After the Revolutionary War ended, America celebrated by signing a Peace Treaty of Paris in 1783. Problems began to happen causing States taxing one another's goods. The worst to hit was in western Mass. (Shay's Rebellion). Daniel Shay then led up armed men to unsuccessful attack on the federal military equipment. -
Philadelphia Convention
In order for a stronger government, the colonies began to move in change in 1785. The meeting began to revise the existing Articles of Confederation but that soon evolved into a meeting dedicated for a different purpose. It became a government that would get its power from a constitution. -
Virginia Plan
This plan called for a new government with three seperate branches. Because the plan seemed to radical for the smaller states, William Paterson of New Jersey presented the position of the smaller States. -
New Jersey Plan
This plan retained the unicameral Congress of the Confederation. It also called for a "federal executive" of more than one person. Among there several differences, the major point of disagreement between the two plans. Finally, the dispute was settled.
