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Nov 12, 1216
Magna Carta
This was the first document ever issued to a King. It is recognized as one of the documents that our Government waas based upon because of the 2 main principles mentioned, which are the idea of a fair trial by a jury, and the idea of fairness and justice for all. -
Jamestown settled
The first established colony of England. -
Mayflower Compact
the first govering document of the Plymouth colonies, written by the Pilgrims. Written to establish their own government before someone else came in and tried to rule them like the King did. -
Petition of Right
The first document that attempted to restrict the rights of the King. It contained many of the same ideas created in the Magna Carta, including imprisonment without cause. It also eliminated the use of martial law. -
English Bill of Rights
Similar to the Petition of Right, it attempts to limit the powers of the King. This sets up more rights for Parliament and what has become today freedom of speech. It also gave people the right to have arms for self defense. -
Albany Plan of Union
A plan created by Ben Franklin to create a defense against the possibility of a war coming to the America. 48 representatives from the colonies gahered to attempt to form a union under one military rule fr defense purposes. -
Stamp Act
Another way for the King to get more money from America by creating the Stamp Act. Forced colonists to use specific paper from London that had been stamped with the revenue stamp. This was one of the few things that outraged colonists and led to the Revolutionary War. -
Boston Massacre
Due to more legislation imposed on the colonies by the King, people formed a mob in in front of a British sentry in Boston. Without orders, the British military fired into the crowd, kiling 5 people. -
Intolerable Acts
Created by the King as a response and punishment for the Boston Tea Party. This punishment included closing the port of Boston, not allowing town meetings, and gave British troops additional rights over colonists. -
Boston Tea Party
The King had imposed yet another tax, this time on tea. The people had decided that enough was enough, and the King was out of contol with his constant taking of American money. They decided to take over two English ships in the harbor and destroy and dump all of the tea into the harbor. -
First Continental Congress
A gathering of the delegates from every colony except Georgia. Created a petition for redress from the King regarding the Intolerable Acts. They also considered boycotting all British trade. The petition was basically laughed at by the King, which led to the 2nd continental congress. -
Second Continental Congress
Included delegates from all 13 colonies. The main goal was to make decision relating to the Revolutionary War, which had recently begun. They created the Continental Army and appointed George Washington as the General of the army. -
Declaration f Independence
Document that separated America from British rule. This laid out many reasons for separating from the King, including many unfair practices by the King. This also said that people had the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; one of the most remembered parts of the Declaration. -
American Revolution Begins
After the Declaration of Independence was declared, the King sent soldiers to invade and take over the colonies. This led to the beginning of the Revolutionary War and the creation of a military that would be successful in 1783. -
Articles of Confederation
The first document that very loosely connected the states and known as our very first Constitution. It did not recognize as the being of a nation, but that the states were simply in a "league of friendship". It gave each state one vote in Congress, allocated no money to the federal government, and allowed states to create their own currency. It also gave separate military powers to each state. Because of the amount of power given to each state, they basically became their own countries. -
Shays' Rebellion
A rebellion that was led by Daniel Shays and lasted almost 6 months. This movement was caused by anger of a bad economy and no actual currency. They led many attacks on county courts, shutting them down, but eventually were defeated by a private militia in February of 1687. -
Philadelphia Convention
Originally set up to discuss the problems within the states and to revise the Articles of Confederation. Many delegates would rather have created a new form of Government all together, and the result was the Constitution after months of deliberation and compromise. -
Connecticut Compromise
defined the legislative structure and representation that each state would have under the United States Constitution. It retained the bicameral legislature along with proportional representation in the lower house, but required the upper house to be weighted equally between the states. Each state would have two representatives in the upper house.
