Government TimeLine

Magna Carta

Jun 1, 1215

English charter, this fought the monarch's authority and forced their king to proclaim certain liberties.Despite its recognised importance, by the second half of the 19th century nearly all of its clauses had been repealed in their original form.

Jamestown Settled

Apr 26, 1607

This was America's first English colony. Jamestown was settled to escape religous prosecution, and for a quick profit from gold mining for it's investors.

Mayflower Compact written

Sep 20, 1620

The first governing document of the Plymouth Colony and was written by the colonists, later known as the Pilgrims who crossed the Atlantic in the Mayflower.

Petition of Right

Sep 20, 1628

This English document prohibits the king from infringing certain liberties. The Petition of Right was produced by the English Parliament in the run-up to the English Civil War. This established the principle that taxes can be levied only by Parliament.

English Bill of Rights

Dec 16, 1689

Restatement of the Declaration of Right that limits the powers of sovereign, sets out the rights of Parliament and rules of freedom of speech in Parliament, requirement for elections in Parliament, and the right to petition the monarch without fear of retribution.

Albany Plan of Union

Jul 10, 1754

This was Franklin's plan of forming a union of the colonies during the French and Indian War.

Stamp Act

Mar 22, 1765

Direct tax on the North American colonies imposed by the Britsh Parliament, required printing to be on stamped paper produced in London having an embossed revenue stamp.

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

Colonists in Boston took a direct action against the British government by dumping 3 shiploads of tea into the Boston Harbor. Sneaking in dressed as Indians mad about taxes being raised.

Intolerable Acts

Mar 31, 1774

British Parliament passed this series of laws that limited the North American colonies.

First Continental Congress

Sep 5, 1774

Called in response to the passing of the Coercive Acts, delegates of twelve of the thirteen colonies met at this convention at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia.

American Revolution Begins

Apr 18, 1775

War between the Kingdom of Great Britian and the thirteen British colonies in North America.

Second Continental Congress

May 10, 1775

Delegates of the thirteen colonies met to manage colonial war effort and move towards independence. The delegates met in Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

Declaration of Independence

Jul 4, 1776

Declared the thirteen American colonies' independence from the British Empire.

Articles of Confederation

Sep 20, 1777

Agreement amoung the thirteen colonies that served as America's first constitution and established the United States of America as a nation.

Shay's Rebellion

Aug 29, 1786

Armed uprising started over financial difficulty in central and western Massachusettes. Over one thousand Shaysites had been arrested. Named after Daniel Shays, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War.

Constitution Convection

May 25, 1787

Delegates of the thirteen colonies met to address problems concerning government of the United States of America.

Connecticut Compromise

Jul 23, 1787

Agreement between large and small states that defined the part of the legislative structure and the representation each state would have under the U.S. Constitution.

Philadelphia Convention

Sep 17, 1787

Delegates of the thirteen colonies formed a new plan of government, which was drafted as the U.S. Constitution. The Convention was purportedly intended only to revise the Articles of Confederation and it's proponents.