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Major Events for Early American Government

  • Magna Carta
    Jun 1, 1215

    Magna Carta

    The Magna Carta was written promises between King John and his subjects saying that he would govern England and deal with his people according to customs of feudal law. It was an attempt to limit him from abusing his power.
  • Jamestown Settled

    Jamestown Settled

    The Virginia Company of London sent this expedition to settle in the Virgina Colony. The reason for coming was to make profits from the resources in the New World.
  • Mayflower Compact written

    Mayflower Compact written

    The Mayflower Compact was the first Plymouth Colony document written by the Separatist who were fleeing religious persecution from James VI and I. It was signed by travelers of the Mayflower while they were anchored in what is now Provicetown Harbor.
  • Petition of Right

    Petition of Right

    The Petition of Right was a petition that had restrictions that the king could not take away. Those included non-parliamentary taxation, forced housing of solidiers, imprisonment without cause and it restricted the use of martial law.
  • English Bill of Rights

    English Bill of Rights

    English Bill of Rights limited the powers of the sovereign. It says the rights of Parliament and says the rules for freedom of speech, the requirement of regular elections, and the right to petition the monarch without fear of retaliation.
  • Albany Plan of Union

    Albany Plan of Union

    Was an attempted at forming a uniion of colonies under one government for defense and other needs. This plan was suggest by Ben Franklin and the Albany Congress.
  • Stamp Act

    Stamp Act

    The British required that printed materials be produced on stamped paper made in London that had the reveue stamp. The Stamp Act was a tax on printed materials that was supposed to help pay for the troops staioned in the colonies.
  • Boston Massacre

    Boston Massacre

    The British were stationed in Boston and the colonist did not like it. Patriot civilians attacked the soldiers and the soldiers shot into the crowd and killed 3 and wounded 8.
  • Boston Tea Party

    Boston Tea Party

    The colonist were angry about the Tea act and the tax it brought. The British refused to return 3 shiploads of tea and so the Sons of Liberty in Boston climbed aboard a ship with tea and dumped it into the water.
  • Intolerable Acts

    Intolerable Acts

    Sometimes called the Coercive Acts. Was a series of laws passed by Britain in response to the Boston Tea Party.
  • First Continental Congress

    First Continental Congress

    Convention that had people from all the colonies and met in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Held in response to the Coercive Acts to discuss the problems that the British were giving them.
  • American Revolution begins

    American Revolution begins

    Started because of the colonist built up anger toward the British from all the new taxes and the Boston Massacre. The colonist wanted to become free from British rule.
  • Second Continental Congress

    Second Continental Congress

    Convention held in Philadelphia Pennsylvania that had delegates from each colony there. They managed the war effort against the British and moved toward independence with adopting the Declaration of Independence.
  • Declaration of Independence

    Declaration of Independence

    Was adopted by the Continental Congress. Paper that said that the 13 colonies were independent states and no longer under British rule.
  • Articles of Confederation

    Articles of Confederation

    Was the first Constitution Agreement by all 13 founding states. It established the United States of America as a confederation of sovereign states.
  • Shay' s Rebellion

    Shay' s Rebellion

    Resulted from financial difficulties, credit problems, and harsh government policies. Was an armed uprising lead by rebel Danial Shays.
  • Philadelphia Convention

    Philadelphia Convention

    Convention that met in Philadelphia Pennsylvania to approach the problems in governing the new nation that was curently under the Articles of Confederation. This was after the independence from Britain.
  • Constitution Convention

    Constitution Convention

    Convention that met to discuss the new problems that the new nation was facing.
  • Connecticut Compromise

    Connecticut Compromise

    Sometimes called the Great Compromise. Was an agreement that gave large and small states equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House of Representatives.