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Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta
This is the Great Charter forced on King John of England by his barons. It established monarchal power as non-absolute and guaranteed trial by law and due process to the nobility. -
Petition of Right
This document was prepared by Parliament and signed by King Charles I of England. It challenged the idea of the divine rights of kings and declared that even monarchs were subject to the laws of the land. -
English Bill of Rights
This document was written by Parliament and agreed on by William and Mary of England. It was designed to prevent abuse of power by English monarchs; this formed the basis for much in American government and politics today. -
Albany Plan of Union
Proposed by Benjamin Franklin, this aimed to unite the 13 colonies for trade, military, and other purposes. It was turned down by the colonies and the Crown. -
Boston Massacre
Upon provocation, British soldiers fired into an unarmed crowd, killing 13 Boston civilians. It definitely built tensions toward the Revolution. -
Boston Tea Party
To protest the high taxes imposed on tea, a group of Americans dressed as natives. Disguised thus, they boarded ships and dumped crates of tea into the drink. -
First Continental Congress
The Intolerable Acts pushed this meeting of delegates from all of the colonies, save Georgia, to meet in Philadelphia. Here, they Drafted a Declaration of Rights, which protested Britain's colonial policies, urged refusal of trade with Britain, and called for a second meeting in May. -
Second Continental Congress
The nation's first, crude government, this served from the formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence until the Articles of Confederation were in effect. The unicameral group made of the colony delegates held both legislative and judicial power. -
Declaration of Independence
Largely the work of Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence was our formal proclamation of our separation from Britain. Its four parts included our qualms against Britain and our beliefs on our rights. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were our first attempt at a government. However, they were too loose, only establishing "a firm league of friendship" among the states. The central government did not have enough power as the states kept "sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every Power, Jurisdiction, and right...not...expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled." Nothing too specific though. -
Shay's Rebellion
Daniel Shays led a rebellion of farmers, closing tax collecting courts. He was eventually taken in and branded as an anarchist. However, his rebellion showed that the Articles of Confederation were not supportive enough of the Central Government. -
Virginia Plan
The first plan of what to do about a new, stronger government was the Virginia plan. It would have a legislative, executive, and judicial branch. The legislative branch would be bicameral, and representation in each house would be based on each state's population or support of the central government. -
Philadelphia Convention
The Philadelphia Convention served the purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation. Here, they revised the government until, after a few plans and compromises, they came up with the Constitution. -
New Jersey Plan
The New Jersey plan was the alternative to the Virginia plan. It retained unicamerality and equal representation of the states. It also called for a "federal executive" who would be chosen by Congress and, if need be, removed thus. The "supreme Tribunal" would be the "federal judiciary" and would be selected by the executive.
