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1215
Magna Carta
First Document to Limit the Kings Powers - Protections for Trial by Jury, Due Process, Private Property -
Mayflower Compact
First Colonial Self-Government -
Petition of Right
PARLIAMENT limits the power of the king.
Further protections of trial by jury, No quartering soldiers, Challenged the divine right of kings -
English Bill of Rights
PARLIAMENT further limits the power of the king.
No cruel and unusual punishment, No excessive bails or fines, Right to bear arms, Right to petition -
Stamp Act Congress
Delegates prepared the Declaration of Rights and Grievances against British policies and sent it to the king. -
First Continental Congress
The colonists sent a Declaration of Rights to King George III.
The delegates urged each of the colonies to refuse all trade with England until British tax and trade regulations were repealed, or recalled. -
Second Continental Congress
In 1775, each of the 13 colonies sent representatives to this gathering in Philadelphia.
The Second Continental Congress served as the first government of the United States from 1776 to 1781.
Adopted the Declaration of independence. -
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Revolutionary War
The American Revolution (1775-83) is also known as the American Revolutionary War and the U.S. War of Independence. The conflict arose from growing tensions between residents of Great Britain's 13 North American colonies and the colonial government, which represented the British crown. -
Virginia Bill of Rights
A call for American independence from Britain, the Virginia Declaration of Rights was drafted by George Mason in May 1776 and amended by Thomas Ludwell Lee and the Virginia Convention. Thomas Jefferson drew heavily from it when he drafted the Declaration of Independence one month later. This uniquely influential document was also used by James Madison in drawing up the Bill of Rights (1789). -
Declaration of Independence
A letter to the British King George III stating the colonists desire to separate from England. -
Articles of Confederation
The first attempt at a central government in the United States. Left most of the powers to the states and was therefore ineffective. -
Period: to
Critical Period
The Articles of Confederation established a fairly weak central government, which led to conflicts among the states. The turmoil of the Critical Period of the 1780’s led to the creation of a stronger National Government. -
Philadelphia Convention
The framers of the Constitution created a document that addressed the major concerns of the States attending Philadelphia Convention. By reaching compromise on items about which they disagreed, the Framers created a new National Government capable of handling the nation’s problems, which the Articles of Confederation had been unable to do. -
Constitution is Ratified
On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify; and the Confederation Congress established March 4, 1789, as the date to begin operating a new government under the Constitution. -
Bill of Rights is Adopted
On December 15, 1791, Virginia became the 10th of 14 states to approve 10 of the 12 amendments, thus giving the Bill of Rights the two-thirds majority of state ratification necessary to make it legal.