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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was the first written document in European history. It was created to protect the rights of the people against their over-powering king. The fifth amendment is a direct reflection of a right presented in the Magna Carta. -
Jamestown Settlement
The first settlement of the Virginia colony, which served as the Virginia capital until 1699. The expedition to Virginia consisted of 3 ships, with no women on board. The ships first arrived at Chesapeake Bay, still known as the "first landing" site. Octrober 1, 1608, was the date the first women settlers arrived in Jamestown. This was the beginning of the establishment of the United States of America. -
Mayflower Compact
This served as the first written framework of government in the United States. It was written to prevent discord among the puritans and non-puritans who had just settled in Plymouth. This document was signed by 41 English colonists off the ship, the Mayflower. -
Petition of Right
A petition sent from English Parliament to King Charles seeking recognition of 4 principles: no taxation without parliament's consent, no imprisonment without cause, no keeping of soldiers on property, and restrictions on martial law. King Charles consented to the petition in June, though it was presented in early March. These ideas represented here are visible in the American government today. -
English Bill of Rights
This bill limited the power of the English sovereign and was an act of Parliament. This bill protected certain unalienable rights of the individual, however limited religious liberty for non-protestants. The protections for indivisuals in the English Bill of Rights serve as a precursor to the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th amendments in the American Constitution. -
Albany Plan of Union
The Albany Plan was a plan proposed by Benjamin Franklin to place the British North American colonies under a more centralized government. The plan was never carried out, however, it was implemented when American settlements declared their independence, which is the same Independence America shares today. -
Stamp Act
A tax imposed on all American colonists by Parliament to pay a tex on every piece of printed paper used. The cost was not very much, however the colonists were offended and resiseted because it was a way for England to take their money without the approval of coloinal legislatures. The colonies now had to stand up to the British, which was part of the process to eventually claim independence. -
Boston Massacre
As a result of the growing tension between America and the British, 5 men were shot and killed by the British. It is said the Americans were throwing snowballs or sticks at the them, but the British were not given instructions to react by any means, especially not gunfire. This was a significant event in terms of leading up to the Revolutionary War. As well, this was a sign to America that we would have to stand up for ourselves. -
Boston Tea Party
A group of Massachusetts Patriots, in protest of the monopoly on tea importation, stole 342 chests of tea in a midnight raid and dumped them in the Harbor. In doing this, America was standing up to the British for their unjust ways. This was part of the process that helped America gain it's independance from Great Britain. -
Intolerable Acts
After dumping tea into the harbor, King George III punished the colonies by enacting laws against them. The Boston harbor was closed to everyone but British ships, British troopes were sent to Boston, British officials couldn't be tried in colonial courts, the British government was in charge of colonial town meetings, and the Canadian borders were cut off from even more colonies. -
First Continental Congress
Elected delegates from every state, besides Georgia, met to show a combined authority against Great Britain. While the efforts were not very unified, different states desiring different actions, the basis idea that the leadership must act according to the people and notify the people equally. Congress still remains today. -
American Revolution
700 British troops marched into Lexington with the intent of capturing patriot leaders. They were met by 77 armed minutemen. Next, the "shot heard round the world" was fired, from an udetermined gun. At the end of the battle of Lexington, 8 Americans lay dead, 10 wounded, and only 1 British soldier was injured. This marked the beginning of the Revolution. -
Second Continental Congress
At this meeting of Congress, new members inc luded Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Hancock. The final decision to break away from Great Britain was made and the Declaration of Independence was drafted. George Washington was unanimously voted as Commander in Chief of the army. As well, congress decided to print paper money. -
Declaration of Independence
WOOHOO! No more Parliament telling us what to do!! The 13 colonies have declared themselves as independent states, free from British rule. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles were the first written document to establish a national government after declaring independence Great Britain. Though it was weak, it did establish a central government, which was to prevent states from conducting their own diplomacy and foreign policy. Later, the Articles were replaced when need for a stronger central government arose. However, the idea that the Articles presented still remains in American government today. -
Shays Rebellion
Shays Rebellion is a series of protests by American farmers against the local and state enforcements of tax collection and judgement for debt. The rebellion was most serious in Massachusetts, though arms were taken up in states from New Hampshire to South Carolina. Under the leadership of Daniel Shays, the farmers attacked the government in January, 1787. The farmers pushed for reform until it was granted later that year.This rebellion influenced Masachusetts' ratification of the constitution. -
Philadelphia Convention
This meeting included delegates from all of the states and GW was elected president of the convention. The main purpose was to discuss the Virginia Plan, drafted by James Madison. This plan called for a strong national government, which ruled over state legislatures. A few weeks later, the New Jersey Plan was presented, to keep federal powers limited. After much debate, a final compromise was reached, which gave Congress new powers but rejected the federal power to veto the state legislatures. -
Constitutional Convention
This was a 4 month meeting of delgates from all the states to come to a conlcusion about the Constitution of the United States. In the end, the constituion was read aloud, and though there were still oppositions, a sense onf unity was present as the signed constitution was finally presented on September 17, 1787. -
Connecticut Compromise
AKA Great Compromise. This compromise, drafted by Roger Sherman, served to resolve issues of representation in Congress. It stated that states would be represented equally in the senate and proportionately in the House of Representatives. As well, it decided that propsed legislation for raising money would come from the HOR. This was approved with a 1 vote margin, as it was crucial to the success of the new constitution.
