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Period: Sep 6, 1200 to
Major Events in Early US Government
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Sep 6, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta is one of the most important documents in history of Democracy. It dclared"No freeman shall be taken, imprisoned,...or in any other way destroyed...except by the lawful judgment of his peers, or by the law of the land. To no one will we sell, to none will we deny or delay, right or justice." This later served as a prime example for the US in the founding of there Constitution. -
Jamestown Settled
This was the first sucessful settlement of the English in North America. It can be found in modern day Virginia. -
Mayflower Compact
This was the first set of laws for settlers of North America, and was signed by the passengers of the Mayflower. They were fleeing religious persecution in Europe. These passengers were the Pilgrims. -
Petition of Right
An English document that limited the powers of the King in certain ways. This was created by the English Parliament before the English Civil War. -
English Bill of Rights
Its main purpose was to declare the acts of the Monarchy illegal at times. These acts include violating the Magna Carta or just ignoring basic laws, because they are royalty. -
Albany Plan of Union
An early attempt at unifying the the Union in America by Ben Franklin. Posed mostly as a defense against the French during the French and Indian War. -
Stamp Act
An act imposed by British governemt forcing heavy taxes on any paper product, document, or cards. This is another example of over taxation in the colonies. -
Boston Massacre
British soldiers opened fired into a group of American protestors who were considered violent by the soldiers, because they were throwing rocks and other debris. Three were kileld. This fueled revolutionary thoughts. -
Boston Tea Party
The 1773 rebellion against the Townsend Acts and other Acts enacted by the British. American Rebels dresseda as Indians and dumbed the British imports into the harbor as an act of rebellion against the Tea Acts. -
First Continental Congress
A group represented by officials of 12 out of the 13 colonies. It was formed to decide how to handle the Intolerable Acts. This also called for a Second Continental Congress. -
Intolerable Acts
This phrase is a general term to describe 5 acts imposed by Britain on America. These acts were eventually the straw that broke the camels in back in deciding to go to war with Britan. -
American Revolution Begins ( shot heard round the world)
At the Battle of Concord the first shots were fired between British and American troops. Eventually lead to the first battle of the war and the beginning to the armed conflict of the American Revolution. -
Second Continental Congress
The main purpose was to manage the already begun American Revolution. Also helped draft the Declaration of Independance, a very prominent US historical document. -
Articles of Confederation
Originally drafted as first Constitution of the US in 1776. Finished by the Continental Congress in 1777, but was finally ratified by the states in 1781. -
Declaration of Independance
This was enacted by the Continental Congress in 1776. There was no turning point from here. It was inevitable the US was to fight to become a free country. -
Shay's Rebellion
An armed rebellion of angered veterans and farmers who were outraged by taxes. They lead several attacks to prevent the government from taking their land after they failed to pay taxes. Claimed to be acting in the revolutionary spirit at the unjust taxes. -
Philadelphia Convention
This group was represented by each American colony. Its main goal was to address issues with the Articles. Eventually lead to a whole new Constitution. -
Conneticut Compromise
1787 compromise of Virginia plan and New Jersey Plan. This defined Congress with equal representation (Senate) and proportional representation (House of Represenatives).
