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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was the first document that limited the King's power. King John was forced into signing the Magna Carta. He was forced to sign it for the main reason that it reduced his power of England. It also allowed for the formation of a powerful parliament. -
Petition of Rights
The Petition of Rights was established in June of 1638. Sir Edward Coke had sent a petition of rights to King Charles I. King Charles I then established the official Petition of Rights statig four key principles: no taxes would be given without PArliament consent; no imprisonment without shown cause; soliders cannot be out into private houses; and martial law cannot be used in times of peace. However, ver soon, King Charles I violated these rights. -
English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights was formally passed by the Parliament on December 16, 1689. It was designed to control the power of the Kind and Queen. Also, it was made to make them subject to laws passed by Parliament. It guaranteed the rights of civilians as well. The Bill of Rights was one of the three most important documents in England in this time. It also paved the way for the U,S. Bill of Rights. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was the first serious sttempt to gain control and governmental authority over the colonies. The tax imposed on the American colonies would require them to pay a tax for every single printed paper they used. It was said that the money from the Stamp Act would go towards paying to protect the American Frontier. However, it was seen as England's attempt to raise money in the colonies without legislative approval in the colonies. -
Townshend Duties
After the Stamp Act had failed, the Parliament tried to come up with ways to make money to pay for the standing army in the colonies. A man named Charles Townsheld proposed setting duties on glass, paper, paint, and tea. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a street fight between colonists and British soldiers. It began with a group of colonists throwing snowballs, stones, and sticks. The entire riot began with 20 citizens attacking a British sentinel. A British officer, Captain Thomas Preston, then ordered more soldiers which were also attacked. They fired back on the crowd killing 3 men and wounding 8 men that later died. This became a signal event leading to the Revolutionary War. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act did not impose any new tax on tea nor was it intended to raise revenue. It was designed to lower the price of tea because a lot of it was being sold on the black market. This would knock out the middle man in hope to encourage more people to buy it. The Tea Act allowed tea to be imported directly to the colonies instead of going through England first. -
1st Continental Congress
Delegates from all of the colonies, except Georgia, gathered at Carpenter's Hall in Philidelphia. They gathered there determined to show a combined authority to Great Britain but had no direct goals set out for the congress. However, they eventually set out tasks that they wanted to accomplish the first being to make it known to the King and the Parliament their grieviances. The first couple of weeks that they met were consisted of discussions and debates. -
2nd Continental Congress
The second continental congress was held soon after the American Revolution had started. Because of this they decided to create a Continental Army to defend themselves from the Redcoats. The first supreme commander was established; George Washington was elected to be incharge. The Congress authorized the printing of money to pay for supplies and appointed a standing committee to handle relations with foreign governments. The Congress was now a running governing board by this time. -
Common Sense Published
Common Sense was a pamphlet that Thomas Paine wrote. It challenged the authority of the British government and its monarch. It is the first document that openly spoke about independence from Great Britain. Paine begins with more general topics about government then narrows it down specifically to their colonial situation. Thoman Paine's Common Sense later inspired the Articles of Confederation to be written. -
Delcaration of Independence Signed
The Declaration of Independence changed the American "rebelion" agaisnt Great Brtiain into a revolution. It was mainliy written by Thomas Jefferson. The Delcaration of Independence spoke of all the sufferages the colonists were facing by being under the rule of the King. It declared their freedom from Great Britain. It was approved at the second conitnental congress and offically signed August 2, 1776 (not July 4, 1776).