Major Events for Early American Government

Magna Carta

Jun 10, 1215

This document was originally called the Articles of the Barons and was also know as the Magna Charta or the Great Charter. The Magna Carta was signed by King John of England, This document limited his powers. It was the first document to set up a constitutional government in England.

Jamestown Settled

May 13, 1607

This is where the first 100 English colonists arrived at Jamestown. Virgina claimed land for King James I. Problems began to rise between between the Algonquian tribe and the colonists when Chief Powhatan died. Chief Opechancanough (their new leader) led an attack on the colonists. This continued to happend until he was captured in Jamestown and was executed.

Mayflower Compact written

Nov 11, 1620

This was were the colonist that landed in in New Plymouth tried to create their own government. It stated they were free from the English law and it also had equal and fair laws. This document was Americas first constitution.

Petition of Right

Jun 7, 1628

This English document stated specific rights that the king couldn't breach upon. Taxes could only be raised by parliment. Prisioners had the right to challenge the legitimacy of their detention through habeas corpus.

English Bill of Rights

Dec 16, 1689

This document ended the idea of divine right of kings and was formed to limit the kings power and make them obey Parliaments laws. It also stated that only the Parliment could raise taxes.

Albany Plan of Union

Jul 10, 1754

This was a plan to put British North American colonies under a more centralized government. It was a the first document to concieve the colonies as a whole under one government. It never followed through.

Stamp Act

Mar 22, 1765

This was passed by Parliment to raise money for the soldiers who were on the American Frontier. Everything that was printed was taxed. The colonist opposed this to prevent the Parliment of thinking they could tax all anything they wanted

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

This event was where Boston became tired of the ever lasting British Soliders. Fifty men attacked a solider this day. Then back up soliders were called in and they attacked the mob. They killed 3, injured 8, and then 2 out of the 8 died.

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

This was were Parliment passed the Townsend Act. Parliament made the cost of tea low, but if colonists bought it they were acknowledging Parliament's right to tax them.That night 200 men dressed as Indians, boarded the ships and threw all of the tea into the ocean.

Intolerable Acts

Mar 31, 1774

This was where a series of punishments imposed on the colonists by Prime Minister Lord North after the Boston Tea Party. It closed the Boston port until the money for the ruined tea was repaid, banned all town meetings, and it and allowed royal troops to stay in a civilians house if barracks were not available

First Continental Congress

Sep 5, 1774

This was where every colony sent delegates except Georgia, set out to protest the Intolerable Acts passed by Parliament. They voted to cut off trade with Britian unless the Intolerable Acts were abolished.

American Revolution Begins

Apr 19, 1775

The American Revolution started in Lexington, Massachusetts. Open gunfire wounded one British soldier and killed eight men on Lexington.

Second Continental Congress

May 10, 1775

Congress members sent an olive branch to try to reconcile with the king but he refused.Congress appealed to Canadians and the Indians for support in their fight.

Declaration of Independence

Jul 4, 1776

The Declaration of Independence was an act of the Second Continental Congress. It declared the 13 colonies of North America free and independent states, separate from the England. The Declaration of Independence also states that all men were created equal and they have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Articles of Confederation

Nov 15, 1777

This document was comprised of a preamble and 13 articles. It included the views of voting to the states and based taxes off building and property rather than population. This was the United States' first ruling document before the Constitution.

Shay's Rebellion

Sep 17, 1786

Shay's Rebellion was an armed uprising in central and western Massachusetts, over financial difficulties for farmers.

Philadelphia Convention

May 25, 1787

This was were delegates met in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia. The Virgina and New Jersey Plan were discussed and they developed the Connecticut Compromise

Constitutional Convention

May 25, 1787

This was were a meeting in which delegates from all the 13 states met in Philidelphia and created the Constitution.

Connecticut Compromise

Jun 29, 1787

This was a compromise between the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan. It called for a two-house government, one house was equal representation, and the other was based on population of the state .The compromise was named after Roger Sherman because he was active in the creating of this compromise and he is from Connecticut.