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Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta
This came about from the noblemen complaining of King Johns abuses of the law. He made this so that way no one, no even the king, can be above the law. -
Jamestown settled
The first successful colony to be settled in America. This site is thought to be underwater, due to erosion. -
Mayflower Compact Written
This was the first governing document of the Plymouth Colony. It was written and signed by the colonists that are later known as the pilgrims, seeking Christian freedom. -
Petition of Right
Taxes can only be levied by Paliament. The King is prohibited from infringing. Prisoners can challenge their own case through the writ of habeas corpus. -
English Bill of Rights
It lays down limits of sovereign, rights of freedom and speech, right to petition the monarch without fear of retribution, or punishment. This is a rewrite and restatement to the Philadelphia Convention. -
Albany Plan of Union
A proposed Union to expand British settlements. It is also for mutual defense and security. It stated that America is to be under one government with "mini" governments that can change their policies if it fits with the main government -
Stamp Act
This was a direct tax by the British Parliament hoping to help pay for the troops stationed in North America. They felt that the colonies were primary beneficiaries for their presence, therefore they should help pay the expense. Anything that called for paper had to be made and taxed in London and paid for by British currency. -
Boston Massacre
The British Redcoats killed 5 cilvilian men. The rioters were verbally yelling and throwing things because of unpopular legislation regulation and the redcoats started to fire without orders. -
Boston Tea Party
This was an action by the people of Boston, they threw the tea into the Boston Harbor because Britain was taxing on the tea they shipped out. They did this because they thought it was unfair to be taxed by people that are not the representatives that they elected. -
Intolerable Acts
This was made in response to the colonies actions at the boston tea party. Britain hoped this would stop their resistance to their authority, and the colonies were very upset because they felt it violated their rights. -
Declaration of Independence
This is when we declared ourselves as independent states and no longer a part of the British Parliament. Thomas Jefferson composed it, and the congress edited it for final publishment. -
First Continental Congress
12 Delegates of the 13 Colonies came together to talk about an action towards the Intolerable Acts, which punished Boston for the Boston Tea Party. They wanted to state grievances and a list of rights in hope that King George the third would redress these issues. -
Second Continental Congress
They are the ones who adopted the Declaration of Independence.They raised armies, directed strategy, appointed diplomats, and made formal treaties; they really put our independence into action. -
American Revolution begins
The political upheaval that ended British influence and rule. Each state had their own provincial constitution that allowed them to be a self-governing state, later to be joined and call the United States of America. -
Articles of Confederation
This pretty much shaped the first colonies as a union. Leaders felt these constitutions were necessary because it established grounds for issuing money, compromising with foreign governments, defining crimes, building a military, etc. -
Shay's Rebellion
This was named after Daniel Shays, he was a former veteran of the Revolutionary War. The rebellion began over financial difficulties, turned into a question whether the Articles of Confederation gave people the right to get "out of hand" they way they did. -
Connecticut Compromise
This was aan agreement between the smaller and bigger states to have equal representation. The lower house had proportional representation, and the upper house had equal weight with all of the states. -
Philadelphia Convention
This was supposed to fix the Articles of Confederation, but instead of them fixing the Articles of Confederation, they elected George Washington to preside and made something new. Outcame the Constitution, and the convention became one of the most important events in American History. -
Constitutional Convection
Same as Philadelphia Convention* (aka)
