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Feb 13, 1215
Magna Carta
Document stating that the king could not wrongfully accuse citizens without proper trial. -
Petition of Right
Document prohibiting the king from infringing on rights of the people. -
English Bill of Rights
Limited the power of the monarchy and granted Parliament more rights, such as freedom of speech. -
Albany Plan of Union
Plan proposed by Benjamin Franklin to bring the 13 colonies under one government "for defense... purposes." Over 20 representatives of northern and mid-Atlantic colonies met and approved the plan. -
Boston Massacre
Incident on King Street in Boston, Massachusettes in which British soldiers fired into a crowd of revolters, killing five, injuring six more. -
Boston Tea Party
To protest high taxes on everything, colonists disguised themselves as Native Americans, snuck on-board merchant ships, and threw tea overboard. -
First Continental Congress
In response to high taxes and the Intolerable Acts, a court of 56 delegates met to petition to the British king to lower them which went unheard, leading to the Second Continental Congress. -
Second Continental Congress
Meeting of representatives of the original 13 colonies (barring Georgia), whom managed the war effort during the American Revolution. -
Declaration of Independence
This document decreed the 13 colonies to be their own nation, free from British rule. -
Articles of Confederation
Predecessor to the United States Constitution. These articles described the United States as an independent nation. -
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Shays' Rebellion
Veterans of the American Revolution became angered when they did not receive pay due to the lack of hard currency in the new nation's possession and led to rebellion led by Daniel Shays. -
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Philadelphia Convention
While stated to be formed to fix the then current form of government, it was really to create a new, operational one. -
New Jersey Plan
Document suggesting that all states get one vote instead of votes based on population.
