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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
This document was the first document ever forced upon the King of England by his own people. This document wanted to limit his powers by law and protect their natural rights. This document was important to America because it helped develop our legal system. -
Jamestown Settled
This town was the first successful English settlement in North America. It was named after King James the first. Settles in the Colony of Virginia. -
Mayflower Compact
This was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. It was written by Saints to get away from religious persecution from King James of Great Britian -
Petition of Rights
In this document it sets out specific liberties that the King is prohibited from interfering with. It prevents the random taxation without Parliment consent, forcing billeting of soldiers, and imprisonment without cause. -
English Bill or Rights
This limits the powers of the crown and sets rights of Parliment and rules for their freedom of speech. This gives Parliment the right to petition the monarch without fear of retribution. -
Albany Plan of Union
This plan was to place British North America colonies under a more centralized governement. This plan did not work but it was the first try to unite the colonies as whole rather than them govern themselves with seperate laws. -
Stamp Act
This was a tax placed on British colonies and required that printed materials be produced on stamped paper from London. This type pf paper carried a revenue stamp on it. -
Boston Massacre
In this event British Soldiers killed 5 cilivians and injuried 6 others in a shoot out on King Street. These soldiers acted upon the order of protect and support crown-appointed colonial officals. -
Boston Tea Party
This event happened because the tax of tea was outrageous and the colonists did not want to pay that much for their imported tea. So a group of them went onto a ship filled with tea on Boston's harbor and threw it overboard in protest to the prices set by the British government. -
Intolerable Acts
These acts stripped Massachusettes of their self-government and their human rights. This is what caused the up roar leading into the American Revolution. These acts made colonists come together and act as one. -
First Continental Congress
This was one of the first meetings of the colonies minus Georgia. This meeting was called because of the Intolerable Acts by the British Government and how they should try and stop what they are doing to the colonial people. -
American Revolution
This was the war started between the American colonies and the British government. The colonies wanted to be free and seperate to run their own government. We were tired of the oppresion from the king. -
Second Continental Congress
This congress was to manage the colonial war effort and gain our independence. They also were the ones to adopt the Declaration of Independence. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration was signed and written to state that we, the United States, will no longer be under control of British rule. The document also states that we are setting out to become our own country. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation gave the government power to direct the American Revolutionary War and deal with territorial issues with Native Americans. The Articles became weak for the government and ended up being replaced by the U.S. Constitution -
Shay's Rebellion
This was an armed rebellion brought on by Daniel Shays and was a protest to the post war affairs. The citizens began to radicalize and they arrested state leaders and protested against state governments to relieve pressures of debt. -
Connecticut Compromise
It was an agreement among large and small states that defined the legislative structure and representation each state would have under the Constitution. It gave the bicameral legislature which is the House and the Senate. -
Constitutional Convention
This occasion took place to address the problems in governing the United States under the Articles of Confederation. Instead of fixing the government, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton wanted to create a new government.
