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Jun 25, 1215
Magna Carta
Was the first document forced onto a king of England by a group of his subjects, the feudal barons, in an attempt to limit his powers by law and protect their privileges -
Jamestown settled
Was the first settlement of the Virginia Colony. Was served as capital of Virginia until 1699, when the seat of government was moved to Williamsburg. -
Mayflower compact written
Was signed by 41 English colonist on the ship Mayflower. First written framework of government established in what is now U.S. Was drafted to prevent dissent amongst Puritans and non-seoaratist Pilgrims who had landed at Plymouth. -
Petition of Right
A statement of civil liberties sent by the English Parliament to Charles I. Refusal by Parliament to finance the kings unpopular foreign policy had caused his government to exact forced loans. Also to quarter troops in subjects' houses as an economy measure. -
English Bill of Rights
Is an act of the Parliament of England. It was a restatement in statutory form of the Declaration of Right presented by the Convention Parliament. -
Albany Plan of Union
Was a plan to place the British North American colonies under a more centralized government. Was a proposal to create a unified government for the Thirteen Colonies. It was suggested by Benjamin Franklin, then a senior leader and a delegate from Pennsylvania. More than twenty representatives of several northern and mid-Atlantic colonies had gathered to plan their defense related to the French and Indian War. -
Stamp Act
An act of the British Parliament that exacted revenue from the American colonies by imposing a stamp duty on newspapers and legal and commercial documents. Colonial opposition led to the acts repeal in 1766 and helped encourage the revolutionary movement against the British Crown. -
Boston Massacre
Was the killing of five colonists by British regulars. It was the culmination of tensions in the American colonies. It had been growing since the Royal troops first appeared in Massachusetts in October 1768 to enforce the heavy tax burden imposed by the Townshend Acts. -
Boston Tea Party
Took place when a group of Massachusetts Patriots. Protesting the monopoly on American tea importation, Recently granted by Parliament to the East India Company. -
First Continental Congress
Was a convention of delegates from twelve colonies. It was called in response to the passage of the Coercive Acts by the British Parliament. -
Intolerable Acts
Was the Patriot name for a series of punitive laws passed by the British Parliament. The acts stripped Massachusetts of self-government and historic rights -
Second Continental Congress
Was a convention of delegates from the thirteen colonies soon after warfare in the American Revolutionary War had begun. It succeeded the First Continental Congress. -
American Revolution begins
A war between the American colonies and Great Britain that started in 1775. Lead to the formation of independence. It ended on Sep. 3, 1783 with the signing of Treaty of Paris. -
Declaration of Independence
Was made by the Second American Continental Congress. Which it asserted the freedom and independence of the 13 colonies from Great Britain. The document formally recorded this proclamation. -
Articles of Confederation
The Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation. It was the first constitution of the United States. It created a loose confederation of sovereign states and a weak central government. -
Shay's Rebellion
A revolt by desperate Massachusetts farmers.It arose from the economic hardship that followed the War of Indepence. -
Constitution Convention
The convention of United States statesmen who drafted the United States Constitution in 1787. It's a written document that was executed by representatives of the people of the United States as the absolute rule of action and decision for all branches and officers of the government. -
Philadelphia Convention
Was to address problems in governing the United States. Which had been operating under the Articles of Confederation, following independence from Great Britain -
Connecticut Compromise
Was an agreement between large and small states that was reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Defined the legislative structure and representation that each state would have under the United States Constitution.
