Major Events in Early American Government

  • Sep 1, 1215

    Magna Carta

    A charter that established the fact that the monarchy in England was no longer an absolute power. This charter also granted and garunteed trial by jury and due process of the law.
  • Jamestown Settled

    Jamestown, Virginia, the first successful colony in 'America'. Also known as the 'Birthplace of America'. Men from England came looking to become rich and ended up settling the first colony.
  • Mayflower Compact Written

    The Mayflower Compact was a compact between the settlers of Jamestown. It was wriiten to ensure fair laws for the common good of the settlement.
  • Petition of Right

    The Petition of Right specified civil liberties that the king of England could not infringe upon, writ of habeas corpus included.
  • English Bill of Rights

    The English Bill of Rights reinstated many assumed and constitutional rights in writing.
  • Albany Plan of Union

    A plan proposed by Benjamin Franklin that aimed to unite the 13 colonies for military and trade purposes.
  • Stamp Act

    This law was enacted by England onto the colonists. It required the use of taxed stamps on all legal documents, on certain business agreements, and on newspapers
  • The Boston Massacre

    The killing of 5 civilians by British soldiers.
  • The Boston Tea Party

    A protest against the taxes the British imposed upon the colonies. Colonists disguised themselves as Native Americans and snuck aboard British ships to dump tea into the harbor.
  • The intolerable Acts

    Harsh laws placed on the colonists including the Quartering Act, the Boston Port Act, and the Massachusetts Bay Regulating Act.
  • First Continental Congress

    The Declaration of Independence was sent to King George III.
  • Second Continental Congress

    The Congress met to discuss and decide upon the next steps to take after the battle of Lexington and Concord.
  • American Revolution begins

    The war between America and England in order for the colonists to gain independence from England
  • Declaration of Independence

    A written document that stated the grievances the colonists had against the British monarch. The document also declared America's independence.
  • Articles of Confederation

    The first constitution of the United States. It was adopted by Congress in 1777 and was enacted in 1781. The Articles established a national legislature.
  • Shay's Rebellion

    A series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers led by Revolutionary War Captain Daniel Shay to block forclosure proceedings.
  • Philidelphia Convention

    Delegates met to dicuss the problems occuring with governing the United States under the Articles of Confederation. Also knowthe Constitution Convention.
  • Constitution Convention

    Delegates met to dicuss the problems occuring with governing the United States under the Articles of Confederation. Also known as the Philidelphia Convention.
  • Connecticut Compromise

    The compromise reached at the Constitutional Convention that established two houses of Congress : House of Representatives and the Senate.