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Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta
This was the first attempt by the people of England to limit the powers of the King and to protect their rights. This document was used as a reference for the creation of many of the original colonies' legal systems. -
Jamestown settled
This was England's first successful settlement of the new territory now known as the United States of America. It was named after King James I of England. -
Mayflower Compact written
This was the first governing document of the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower. It unified the Pilgrims into a single body in order to have more success with their colonization. -
Petition of Right
This document set restrictions on the King of England so that he could not tax without Parliamentary consent, imprisonment without cause, and could not house soldiers in civilian households without approval. This was used as a basis for the Constitution and Bill of Rights because of the protection it gave to the citizens. -
English Bill of Rights
This document provided more rights by ensuring the right to freedom of speech and that taxes had to be approved by Parliament. These rights were reflected upon in the first governing documents of the United States of America. -
Albany Plan of Union
This was an unsuccessful plan to unify the original thirteen colonies. Although it was not carried through, it provided the first attempt to create an organized government. -
Stamp Act
The colonies were taxed on all papers that were printed with the money going to support the British military. This act was the cause for the first acts of rebellion by the thirteen colonies. -
Boston Massacre
A mob of civilians harrassed British officers because they were being housed in the citizen's homes witout consent. This caused the soldiers to become angry and fire at the citizens, killing five and injuring six. This angered many of the colonists who then rebelled. -
Boston Tea Party
A group of colonists rebelled against the British tax on tea by raiding British ships and dumping barrels of tea overboard. This enraged the British government and caused the to send more soldiers to the colonies. -
Intolerable Acts
This act was issued as punishment to the citizens of Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party. It closed of the Boston ports and established the Quartering Act which allowed British soldiers to stay in civilian houses. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress met in order to decide how to counteract the Intolerable Acts. They decided to boycott English goods and to meet for the Second Continental Congress if plans did not go as planned. -
American Revolution begins
This was the war between Britain and the U.S. colonies. The colonies were fighting for their independence from Britain and to create their own country. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress met to establish the First Continental Army and to write the Declaration of Independence. This meeting caused the separation of the colonies from British rule. -
Declaration of Independence
The thirteen colonies declared themselves separate from British rule. They did this in an attempt to further protect their rights. Britain then reacted by sending soldiers to attack the colonies. -
Articles of Confederation
This document served as the first Constitution and established the colonies as a unified confederation. It established the first governing body for the United States of America. -
Shay's Rebellion
A rebellion, started by Daniel Shays, by a group of farmers in protest of tariffs. These tariffs caused properties to foreclose and families to starve. -
Philadelphia Convention
This is also known as the Constitution Convention. This meeting established the United States Constitution which is the permanent governing document of the United States. -
Constitution Convention
This is also known as the Philadelphia Convention. This meeting established the United States Constitution which is the permanent governing document of the United States. -
Connecticut Compromise
This event resolved the issues of how many representatives a state could have. It established the Virginia and New Jersey Plans. This helped create the layout of the United States Congress.
