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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
King John pus his royal seal on the Great Charter. It was writen at Runnymede on the Thames. This document has been exaggerated. It actuallly did not create Parliment in England. -
Mayflower Compact
This was the first written framework of government in what is now th United States of America. It was drafted to prevent dissent amongst Puritans and Non-Separatist pilgrims who had landed a few days earlier. -
Petition of Rights
Curtesy of this document, imprisonment without a purpose and extra-parliamentary taxation were no longer legal. Eventually, King Charles agreed to sign this document. -
Albany Plan of Union
Benjamin Franklin proposed this document. Although it was regected, it was the foundation for the Articles of Confederation. The segmented serpent represents the Albany Plan of Union. Benjamin Franklin created this political cartoon. -
King George III takes power
King George passed the tea act, the stamp act and the other intollerable acts. Later in his life, King George III suffered multiple times from insanity. -
The French and Indian War
The French, Indians, and British fought on North American soil to see which nation was to get out of North America. In the end, Britain ended up wining the war. The French and the Indians, who were fighting on the same side, both lost and the French had to give all of its territories in North America. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was placed on all paper products including cards, notebooks, and paper. These items and more had a sticker on them showing that they were being taxed. The colonists rioted because they thought that the right of "No taxation without representation" was being threatened. -
The Boston Masacre
On March 5th, 1770, a crowd of citizens started to throw snowballs at a group of "Lobsterback" British soldiers. The soldiers fired into the crowd and killed a total of 5 citizens. The townspeople were mad at Britain because the Townshend Acts were being heavily enforced in the colonies. The Boston Massacre at History Channel -
The Boston Tea Party
A group of citizens, known as the Sons of Liberty, dressed up as Mohawk Indians boarded three British ships loaded with tea and threw the entire shipment of tea into the Boston Harbor. The British were not happy about the event at all.
Boston Tea Party Video -
First Continental Congress
Patrick Henry, George Washington, John Adams, and John Jay were some of the delegates in attendence. As a result of this meeting, the American started up. This meeting took place at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia. -
The Intolerable Acts.
Through this act, the British had the citizens of Boston to pay for all of the tea that wa dumped into the Boston Harbor during the Tea Party. England also gained complete control of vtown meeting in Boston, made British soldiers immune to criminal persecution in America, and forced citizens to house British soldiers. -
The Battles of Lexington and Concord.
These battles were the first two battles in the American Revolution. During these battles, the colonists proved that they could hold their own. Four of the major generals were William Howe, Henry Clinton, "Gentleman Johnny" Burgoye, and General Gage. Paul Revere had the job of alerting Concord that the British were coming by sea, not by land. -
The Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress held its meetings in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The idea of the Declaration came about at this meeting. Most significant political figureheads were part of this congress including John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, Samual Adams, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington. -
Declaration of Independence
This document was signed at Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA. It was signed by the first continental congress. John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams are some of the people who sighned the Declaration of Independence. -
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first written constitution of the United States of America. Under these articles, the first president was John Hanson. -
The Treaty of Paris
Benjamin Franklin, John Jay,and John Adams represented the United States during the signing. Through this treaty, Canada and Mexico were the new boarders of the United States of America. Great Britain finaly recognized the Constitution of the United States. -
Start of the Constitutional Convention
At the Annapolis Convention, there were debates about trade-related issues. The original purpose of the Convention was to talk about their increasing frustration with their limited power. -
English Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights was designed to protect the basic rights of the citizens of the United States.
