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Period: Jan 1, 1200 to
Significant Events of Early American History
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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
-most importantly it established limited power to the English Monarchy.
-declared trial by jury and due process of law to nobility of land
-influence of US Constitution -
Jamestown is settled
-it was the first successful English colony in the New World
-in Virginia -
Mayflower Compact is written
-first set of laws
-signed by the English settlers -
Petition of Right
-written by English Parliament, signed by King Charles before English Civil War
-continued the limit of the king's power, could not infringe, place taxes without parliament's consent, arbitrary arresst in contradiction to Magna Carta, etc. -
English Bill of Rights
-gave ability to declare acts of royalty illegal, such as going against the Magna Carta -
Albany Plan of Union
-early attempt at uniting the 13 colonies for trading and military defense in the French and Indian War
-proposed by Benjamin Franklin -
Stamp Act
-required taxes on stamps, documents, newpapers, any other paper item
-imposed by British Government -
Boston Massacre
-British soldiers fired in American protesting crowd, which was unrealistically considered violent, killing five people, and injuring eleven
-sparked increased rebellion towards Britain -
Boston Tea Party
men dressed as Native Americans rebel against the Townsend Acts and Tea Act by dumping tea into the Boston Harbor from the ships in the port -
Intolerable Acts
phrase used to describe the 5 acts that Britain had imposed on American colonies -
First Continental Congress
representatives from the colonies came together to decide how to react to Intolerable Acts -
American Revolution begins
the shot heard round the world, began the battle of Concord and continued fight against British -
Second Continental Congress
started managing the war effort, drafted Declaration of Independence, was a sort of governmental group for the time being -
Declaration of Independence
-announced that the thirteen colonies were official states independent of Britain -
Articles of Confederation
-first Constitution of America, drafted by Continental Congress
began use in 1777, and was officially ratified -
Shay's Rebellion
-farmers, disapproving of taxes, lead attacks to prevent government from foreclosing their land -
Philadelphia Convention
-representatives joined to discuss Articles of Confederation, and ended up with the new, U.S. Constitution
also known as the consititutional convention -
Connecticut Compromise
-created Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan, giving Congress the Senate and House of Reps
