Major Events for Early American Government

Magna Carta

Jan 1, 1215

The Great Charter signed Runnymede by King John in 1215.

Jamestown Settled

May 14, 1607

This was the first successful English settlement on North America.

Mayfolwer Compact written

Nov 1, 1620

This document was written in November of 1620.

Petition of Right

May 1, 1628

This document was prepared by parliament and signed by King Charles I of England in 1628.

English Bill of Rights

Dec 1, 1689

This bill prohibited a standing army in peace time except with the concent of parliment. It also included guarantees such as the right to a fair trial, freedom from excessive bail, and cruel and unusual punishment.

Albany Plan of Union

Jan 1, 1754

Plan proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754.

Stamp Act

Jan 1, 1765

This law required the use of tax stamps on all legal documents, certian business agreements, and on newspapers.

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

This event took place on March 5, 1770. British troops in Boston fired on a jeering crowd of colonists, killing five in what became known as the Boston Massacre.

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

This event took place on December 16, 1773. A group of men disguised as Native Americans boarded three tea ships in the Boston Harbor and dumped to contents of the boxes off the ship.

Intolerable Acts

Jan 1, 1774

These acts prompted widespread calls for a meeting of the colonies.

First Continental Congress

Sep 1, 1774

This event took place in the spring of 1774 after parliment passed another set of laws against the colonies.

American Revolution begins

Jan 1, 1775

This war took place between the Colonists and the British in order for them to gian their independence from Britain.

Second Continental Congress

May 10, 1775

The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775 shortly after the Revolutionary War had begun.

Declaration of Independence

Jul 4, 1776

This document is composed of four parts: a preamble, a declaration of natural rights, a list of greviences, and a resolution of independence.

Articles of Confederation

Jan 1, 1777

This document established "a firm league of friendship" among the states.

Shay's Rebellion

Aug 29, 1786

This rebellion was the result of public ad private debts that went unpaid. Violence broke out in a number of places. The most spectacular of these events played out in Western Massachusetts in a seriece of incidents.

Connecticut Compromise

Jan 1, 1787

This was an agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention that said congress should be composed of a senate in which states would be represented equally.

Philadelphia Convention

May 25, 1787

This event was the start of the never-ending contest.

Constitutional Convention

May 25, 1787

This meeting was held to address the problems of the Articles of Confederation following independence.