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Mar 1, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was created to give the English people certain rights outside of King John's power. This charter was forced upon King Jonh by fuedal barons who wanted to limit the kings power and protect their privileges. -
Jamestown Settled
Founded as "James Fort" on May 14, 1607, it was the first permanent English settlement, following several earlier failed attempts, including the Lost Colony of Roanoke. -
Mayflower Compact Written
The Mayflower Compact was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony written by the pilgrims who traveled on the Mayflower. It was signed on November 11, 1620, by 41 of the ship's 101 passengers to ensure their safetly and survival. -
Petition of Right
ThePetition of Right is a British document that tried to limit a monarch's power. This document allowed parliment the power to levy taxes, restict martial law only to war time, and instituted habeus corpus. -
English Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights passed by Parliament layed down the limits on the powers of sovereign and sets out the rights of Parliament and rules for freedom of speech in Parliament, the requirement to regular elections to Parliament and the right to petition the monarch without fear of retribution. It also reestablished the liberty of Protestants to have arms for their defence within the rule of law. -
Albany Plan of Union
The Albany Plan of Union, proposed by Benjamin Franklin, was an early attempt to unify the colonies during the French and Indian War. Later on the Albany Plan of Union served as inspiration of the Articles of Confederation. -
Stamp Act
An act of the British Parliament in 1765 that exacted revenue from the American colonies by imposing a stamp duty on any newspapers or legal and commercial documents. The purpose of the tax was to help pay for troops stationed in North America, while Americans didn't see the need for the troops or the taxes. -
Boston Massacre
This event took place when a mob of angry colonists surounded the Birtish Redcoats stationed in Boston and subjected them to verbal harassment. The Redcoats then fired into the crowd killing only five people, while wounding many more. -
Boston Tea Party
On December 16, 1773, colonists disguised as indians boarded three ships and emptied the cargo if tea into Boston Harbor. This was a direct protest to the high taxes places on the tea by the British Parliament. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from twelve of the thirteen North American colonies that met on September 5, 1774, at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, early in the American Revolution. It was called in response to the passage of the Intolerable Acts by the British Parliament. -
Intolerable Acts
A series of laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 to punish and make an example of Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party. Many colonists viewed the acts as an arbitrary violation of their rights, and in 1774 they organized the First Continental Congress to coordinate a protest. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that met beginning on May 10, 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, soon after warfare in the American Revolutionary War had begun. It succeeded the First Continental Congress, which met briefly during 1774, also in Philadelphia. The second Congress managed the colonial war effort, and moved incrementally towards independence, adopting the United States Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. -
American Revolution Begins
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America. Ultimately, the states collectively determined that the British monarchy, by acts of tyranny, could no longer legitimately claim their allegiance. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was drafted by the Continental Congress and annouce that the thirteen colonies regarded themselves as independent states no longer a part of the British Empire. Thomas Jefferson was selected to write the original draft that Congress would edit to produce the final version. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was an agreement bewteen the 13 founding colonies that established the United States of America as a nation and served as the first constitution. The Articles were first drafted by the Continental Congress in 1776 and was formally ratified in 1781. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion was an armed uprising in central and western Massachusetts that started on August 1786. Daniel Shays led the rebelion after the courts had tried to take away his farm due to his inability to pay his debts and taxes. -
Constitution Convention
The Constitutional Convention of the United States, more commonly known as the Philadelphia Convetion was held from May 14 to September 17, 1787. This meeting was called to address problems in the governing of the United States and ultimately led to the creation of the United States Constitution. -
Philadelphia Convention
The Philadelphia Convention was held on May 25 though Sempteber 17, 1787. This convention took place to address problems in governing the United States. The result of the convention was the United States Constitution, making this convention one of the most significant events in our history. -
Connecticut Compromise
This was a compromise bewteen the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. This compromise created a Congress made of two houses. One, the Senate, would have equal representation from each state, while the other, the House of Representatives, has representation based on each states population.
