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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
English charter originally issued in 1215, was the first written document imposing limitations on King. -
Jamestown settled
Was the first successful english settlement on North America. The settlement was named after King James 1 and was in the colony of Virginia. The settlement was colonized by the London Company. -
Mayflower Compact
This was a written document by the colonists that discussed government. The Compact was made to allow the sepratist group the freedom to practice Christianity how they saw fit. -
Petition of Right
This major English document set specific libirties the King could not abuse or intrude on. The document was produced by the English Parliment in the wake of the English Civil War. -
English Bill of Rights
Lays down limits on powers of soverign, rights of Parliment, and rules for freedom of speech in Parliment. Also allowed the right to petition a monarch without fear. -
Albany Plan of Union
Propesed plan by Benjamin Franklin at the Albany congress.The plan was an early attempt at forming a union of the colonies "under one government as far as might be necessary for defense and other general important purposes" during the French and Indian War. -
Stamp Act
Required that many printed materials in the colonies would be taxed by Great Britain. Printed materials included legal documents, magazines, newspapers and many other types of writings. -
Boston Massacre
This was an icident that led to five civilian deaths that were shot and by British soldiers. This incident sparked rebellion in many of the Brithish American Colonies. -
Boston Tea Party
This was direct retalliation by the colonists of Boston. After the officials refused to return the taxed tea to Britain, a group of colonist boarded the ship dressed as Native Americans and dumped the tea into the harbour. -
Intolerable Acts
A series of laws passed by British Parliment relating to Britain's colonies in North America. These triggered major riots and outrages in the Thirteen Colonies, this was an important trigger to the American Revolution. -
First Continental Congress
Convention of delegates from the twelve of thirteen colonies that met a Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Was created in response to the intolerable acts imposed on the colonists. -
American Revolution Begins
This was the event that would eventually allow America its freedom from from Great Britain. The colonies rejected authority of the Parliment and eventually removed all royal officials. -
Second Continental Congress
This meeting was created just after fighting had began in the American Revolutionary War. They managed the colonial war effort and pushed for American Independence. -
Declaration of Independence
Written by Thomas Jefferson, this document declared America's freedom as a true nation. John Locke was Jefferson's main influence for having a state of democracy. -
Articles of Confederation
This was the first constitution of the United States and said how the federal government would operate; also included the official name the new nation "United States of America". -
Shay's Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion was an armed uprising that took place in Massachusetts (mostly in and around Springfield) during 1786 and 1787, which some historians believe "fundamentally altered the course of United States' history." -
Constitution Convention
This was located in the State House in Philadelphia. Fifty-five delegates from several states met and framed a Constitution for a federal rebuplic. -
Connecticut Compromise
This was an agreement between large and small stated that defined the legislative structure and representation each state would have. The United States Senate and House of Representatives were a result of this. -
Philadelphia Convention
This convention was held to create a new government rahter than fix what they had. The result was the United States Constittution and the delegates elected George Washington to lead the convention.
