-
Apr 15, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was created to overthrow King James' ruling and to hae him govern the old English way. It was made up of 37 English laws. -
Jamestown settled
The first successful English settlement in North America. it was named after King James the 1st of England. It was founded in the colony of Virginia. -
Mayflower Compact written
The Mayflower Compact was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. It was written by William Bradford and was signed by 41 of the ship's 101 passengers. -
Petition of Right
Constitutional document that stated certain liberties that the King prohibited. The document was signed by Charles the 1st. -
English Bill of Rights
The bill limited the powers of sovereign and set of the rights of Parliament. It reflected the belief of John Locke. -
Albany Plan of Union
It was proposed by Ben Franklin in front of Congress. He was attempting to form a union among the Colonies. -
Stamp Act
The Act was passed by British Parliament and was a new tax on American colonist. The tax required Americans to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used. -
Boston Massacre
5 colonists died (killed by British soldiers.) The colonists wanted to break away from English, but they wouldn't let them. -
Boston Tea Party
American colonists boarded ships in Boston and threw cargoes of tea in the surrounding water. They were protesting the tax on tea by the British Parliament. -
Intolerable Acts
Series of laws that were sponsored Lord North of Britain. They were in response to the Boston Tea Party. -
First Continental Congress
A group of 56 deligates from 12 colonies (excluding Georgia) that came together to discuss the Intolerable Acts. Their metting was secret because they didn't want Britain to know they were united. -
American Revolution begins
It started from tensions between the residents of the 13th colonies and teh government (representing Britain). British troops and colonial miltiamen had an armed conflict in Lexington and Concord. -
Second Continental Congress
This meeting of the Continental Congress created the Continental Army. George Washington was the commander-in-chief. -
Declaration of Independence
It was a formal explanation of why Congress had voted to declare independence from Great Britain. Thomas Jefferson was selected to compose the original draft. -
Articles of Confederation
(ratified and in-force March 1,1781) A commitee of deligates was formed to represent each state and Congress. They were responsible for foreign affairs, declaring war or peace, maintining an army/navy, ect. It eventually led to the adoption of the U.S. Constitution. -
Shay's Rebellion
It was an uprising in Massachusetts, named after Daniel Shays. Post-revolutionary clash between New England farmers and merchants that threatened to plunge the colonies into a civil war. -
Philadelphia Convention
Statesmen met to discuss problemsin governing the U.S.A. They intended to revise the Articles of Confederation but they also created a new government. -
Constitution Convention
A convention held by statesmen to discuss the government of the U.S. The U.S. Constitution was drawn up at this convention. -
Connecticut Compromise
An Agreement between large and small states reached during the Philadelphia Convention in 1787. It ensured the support by both of the small and large states for a strong central government. It is also known as the Great Compromise.
