Major Events for Early American Government

Magna Carta

Jun 15, 1215

This was the first document that was forced to be signed by a King of England.(King John) Which also kept England out of Civil War. This lead to the constutional law that we know today and helped shape our legal system. This is known as the most important document in domocracy and help form our own decleration.

Jamestown Settled

May 6, 1607

Was orginally founded at "James Fort" and was supposed to set up the beginning of the country. It was a total failure until John Smith came and set order in the colony.

Mayflower Compact Written

Sep 19, 1620

Was written while pilgrams were coming from England. They knew they needed a set of rules for their new community.

Petition of Right

Jun 7, 1628

Is a major English document that says the rights that the King can never take away from them. Some examples of these were,non-Parliamentary taxation, forced billeting of soldiers, imprisonment without cause, and restricts the use of martial law.

English Bill of Rights

Dec 16, 1698

It says how powerful the King could get in England and sets up rules of freedom of speech in Parliment. It also sets up the requirment for regular elctions for Parliment, as well as being able to challenge the Monarchy.

Albany Plan of the Union

Jul 10, 1754

This was a document proposed by Ben Franklin for the 13 colonies. Its main purpose was to create one unified government within the colonies.

The Stamp Act

Sep 19, 1765

The Stamp Act was a direct tax from the British govement to the US colonies. The act required all printed materials to be printed on stamp paper, which was produced in England. This act was to help pay for troops stationed in North America.

The Boston Massacre

Mar 6, 1770

The Boston Massacre was the killing of 5 Boston citizens protesting against British taxation. The colonists had not been happy the British were there and they finally took it into there own hands.

The Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

This was a protest among colonists for the taxation of tea and other known goods. Colonists dressed up as Indians and threw out barrels upon barrels of tea into the Boston Harbour to protest the taxs.

Intolerable Acts

Feb 22, 1774

Was a document that was made in Britain and was a series of laws passed by British Parliment.The acts forced Massachusetts to get rid of its self-government and historic rights which caused outrage throughout Massachusetts. This was all cause by the Boston Tea Party in 1773.

First Continental Congress

Sep 5, 1774

This was the first meeting between delegates from each states came together to dicuss the future of the country in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The first meeting met briefly to discuss protests against the British. Notable members included, George Washington, Sam Adams, and Thomas Jefferson.

Start of the American Revolution

Jul 19, 1775

Was the beginning on the fight for freedom in America. This was caused when the British were not happy with the colonists and tempers flarred.

Second Continental Congress

Jul 3, 1776

The second congress discussed the colonial war effort and moved toward independence from Britain. This is the congress who wrote and singed the Decleration of Independence. While they also raised armies and discussed strategy.

Decleration of Independence

Jul 4, 1776

This declared our independence from Great Britain and introuduced our selves to the world as The United States of America. Which also trigged the American Revolution.

Articles of Confederation

Nov 15, 1777

This was the first Constitution of the United States, even though it was not put into order unti all 13 states ratified it in 1781.The Articles created a loose confederation for the states and a weak central government, leaving most of the power to the state governments, which thus gave them more freedom throughout the country.

Shay's Rebellion

Aug 29, 1786

This was an uprising that happend in Massachusetts in 1786. It was started by many things including financial problems post the war, a lack of currency, and harsh goverment policies. It ended up killing 20 kids.

Philadelphia Convention

Sep 17, 1787

These delegates met to dicuss the problmes of the governing of the United States. The country had been running under the articles of confederation and this convention was meant to changed articles, The end result was the creation of Congressm with George Washington as its leader.

Constitution Convection

Sep 17, 1787

Also known as the Philadelphia Convention, delegates met in Philadelphia to adress problems in the goverment in the United States. James Madison and Alexander Hamilton's job was to change the articles that they were being run under. Not change the whole country.

Connecticut Compromise

Sep 19, 1787

This was an agruement that the large and small states introduce to make goverment fair for smaller states that had to compete with more population from other states. It made goverment fair for people in the US.