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In America's political beginnings, a group of barons forced King John to sign the Great Charter at Runnymede. This charter forbid absolute rule by the monarchy and declared the King subject to the laws just as any other citizen.
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When King Charles I asked Parliament for more money in taxes, they forced him to sign the Petition of Right that limited the King's power. Mainly, the petition demanded the king no longer imprison or punish any person but by the lawful judgement of his peers/the land.
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This document that was written by Parliament in 1628 was designed to prevent abuse of power by English monarchs. This document also forms the basis for much in American government and politics today.
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This plan, proposed by Bejamin Franklin, offered the creation of an annual congress of delegates, but was unfortunately rejected. This body would have the power to raise military and naval forces, make war and peace with the Native Americans, regulate trade with them, tax, and collect customs duties.
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The Stamp Act was an act passed by Parliament requiring the use of tax stamps on all legal documents, on certain business agreements, and on newspapers. Angrily, the colonies met for the first time in a unified manner at the Stamp Act Congress to oppose the British government.
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Worsening the already tense situation, colonists exaggerate the five deaths of the Boston Massacre through their propaganda. The event, while serious, did not warrant the term of "massacre".
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The King passes the Tea Act, which controlls tea trade. Colonists respond by dressing as Native Americans, boarding three tea ships in Boston Harbor and dumping the ship's cargo into the sea in protest.
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The Intolerable Acts were a series of laws passed by British Parliament, four of the acts in response to the Boston Tea Party. This was Britain's attempt to "make an example" to end the resistance of the colonies, but in fact sparked an even further rebellion.
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For two months, delegates from every colony (except Georgia) met and debated plans for action in response to the Intolerable Acts which included drafting a Declaration of Rights. The meeting also called for a complete boycott of all English goods in all of the colonies.
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As previously stated at the end of the First Continental Congress, the Second Continental Congress contained an angrier approach to the ever apathetic British Parliament. This Second Continental Congress declared war against Britain through the revolution.
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Slightly more than a year after the Revolution began, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia purposed that the colonies declare their independence from the British crown. With the adoption of the Declaration, the United States was born.
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The Articles of Confederation was an adjunct to the Declaration of Independence that was set forth to unite the colonies. The Articles established a "firm leage of friendship" while each state kept their "sovereignity, freedom, and independence, and ever power, jurisdiction and right not expressly delegated to the common defense".
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Beginning in 1786, Shays Rebellion was an armed uprising in central and western Massachusettes. Shays' battle was considered the last battle of the Revolution.
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The Philadelphia Convention was a convention which the "framers" attended. These individuals framed the Constitution of our country which we still use today.
