Major Events for Early American Government

Magna Carta

Jun 15, 1215

The Magna Carta was written by the barons of King John. It was written to protect their rights and property from the King. It was later nulled by Pope Innocent III and civil war broke out.

Jamestown settled

May 14, 1607

When Jamestown was first settled it started out with a wooden fort made in a triangle with storage houses in the middle and had several houses around the area. Two ships went back to England to report to the king and get more supplies. The ones left behind suffered from famine and illness.

Mayflower Compact written

Nov 11, 1620

The compact was to try and create a temporary, legal government until the Company could get permission from the COuncil of New England

Peition of Right

Jun 7, 1628

The Petition of RIght served to remind King Charles that the Magna Carta was still in place to give the englishmen rights and that he could not pass boundaries that would violate it. The King accepted the petition but then went back to his old ways.

English Bill of RIghts

Dec 16, 1689

The English Bill of Rights provided immunity to certain powers of the king/queen. This bill and the one of 17-1 gave power to the legislative part of the government which made it better over other governments

Albany Plan of Union

Jul 10, 1754

The Albany plan was to put British north colonies under a more comapct governement. The plan was never put in place but it was the first major one to try and unify the colonies under one government

Stamp Act

Mar 22, 1765

The stamp act was a way to try and gather money for the troopers that were defending near the Appalachian Mountains. Every piece of paper was taxe dincluding stamps, legal documents, newspaper, playing cards, etc,.

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

British soldiers killed 5 colonists as tensions rised between America and Britain

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

The Boston Tea Party took place in response to the raised taxes of tea. Settlers dressed up and went to a ship in Boston harbor and dumped crates of tea.

Intolerable Acts

Jan 1, 1774

After the Boston Tea Party Britain wanted to punish Massachussetts and set out and responded with acts. They were intended to bring authority back to Britain and reform the colonial government

First Continental Congress

Sep 5, 1774

The colonies that showed up were there to try and show authority towards Great Britain There was never a clear reason as to why the colonies met up for.

American Revolution begins

Apr 19, 1775

Americans were in Lexington when Pitcairn, a British major, told them to disperse when someone fired a shot. There was a battle and 8 americans were dying/dead while one British sodlier was wounded

Second Continental Congress

May 10, 1775

This meeting took place in order to address wars, money. Congress appointed George Washington as the army leader

Declaration of Independence

Jul 4, 1776

This was the day that America proclaimed itself independent and not under British rule

Articles of Confederation

Mar 1, 1781

This was the first constitution of the 13 colonies. It lef the states with a lot of power and the need for a stronger governement became clearer. This constitution was eventually replaced

Shays' Rebellion

Jan 1, 1787

Taxes were high and this put many farmers in debt. Those who couldn't pay it were put in prison. There were special meetings to plan protests to protest conditions. Former continental leader Daniel Shays led the rebellion. There were battles fought in which they had failed to win th

Philadelphia Convention

May 25, 1787

This was a convention in order to make the Articles of Conderation into a more powerful document because it left congress week in it's current form at the time.