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Jul 15, 1215
Magna Carta
Magna Carta was the first document forced onto an English King by a group in an attempt to limit his powers by law and protect their privileges. -
Period: Jul 15, 1215 to
Dates of Major Events for Early American Government
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Jamestown Settled
Jamestown was the first successful English Settlement on the mainland of North America -
Mayflower Compact written
It was written by the colonists who crossed the Atlantic aboard the Mayflower. Almost half of the colonists were part of a separatist group seeking the freedom to practice Christianity according to their own determination and not the will of the English Church. 41 passengers of the ship signed it. -
Petition of Right
It is an English constitutional document that sets out specific liberties of the subject that the king is prohibited from altering. It states that taxes can only be levied by Parliament. -
English Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights gave certain rights to all Englishmen. The people were given certain political and civil rights. -
Albany Plan of Union
The Albany Plan was proposed by Ben Franklin at the Albany Congress during this year. This was an attempt at forming a union of the Colonies. -
American Revolution Begins
Adopting the policy that the colonies should pay an increased proportion of the costs associated with keeping them in the Empire, Britain imposed a series of direct taxes followed by other laws intended to demonstrate British authority, all of which proved extremely unpopular in America. The people did not agree with the British and this started the Revolution. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was the first stamp act to be passed by the Parliament of Great Britain and required all legal documents, permits, commercial contracts, newspapers, wills, pamphlets, and playing cards in the American colonies to carry a tax stamp. -
Boston Massacre
The Townshend Acts was a series of Laws passed by British Government. Colonists in Boston refused these acts and protested. The British Army was in Boston trying to enforce the acts, on this date the colonists rebelled and began throwing rocks at a British officer. As the night went on, the event escalated and drew a huge crowd with American Colonists versus the British. The British Soldiers fired into the crowd and hit 11 men. -
Boston Tea Party
The Tea Party was a direct action against British Government. Colonists objected to the Tea Act because they believed it violated their right to be taxed. During the Tea Party, Colonists boarded the ships in the Boston Harbor and threw all of the tea overboard. It became a key event in the growth of the American Revolution. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts is a series of 5 laws passed by the British Parliament relating to the Colonies. Four laws were passed right after the Boston Tea Party. Many colonists saw this as a violation of their rights and then the First Continental Congress was formed. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from twelve of the thirteen Colonies that met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Following the meeting, a boycott was implemented on British goods. They also planned a Second Continental Congress. -
Second Continental Congress
There were many of the same delegates that attended the First Continental Congress. The Second Continental Congress was in charge of the war effort. The congress then worked on all Colonies to ratify the Articles of Confederation. -
Articles of Confederation
On this date, the committee was picked to start the drafting of the Articles. The last draft of the articles was finished in 1777. The basis of the aritcles was for all states to retain sovereignty. It contained 13 articles. -
Declaration of Independence
On this date, the 13 Colonies became free and independant states and no longer apart of the British Empire. This was the day the wording of the Declaration was approved by Congress that we still celebrate today. -
Shay's Rebellion
This was an armed uprising in Massachusetts. It was led by Daniel Shays. He led the rebels which many were poor farmers angered by debt and taxes. Over 1000 had been arrested. -
Philadelphia Convention
George Washington was President of the Convention. The result of this was the United States Constitution replacing the former Articles of Confederation. -
Connecticut Compromise
The agreement between large and small states was reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that in part defined the legislative structure and representation that each state would have under the United States Constitution. It proposed a legislature, resulting in the current United States Senate and House of Representatives.
