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Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta
This document was forced upon the King of England by a group of his subjects called the Feudal Barons. The document was the first of its kind and was the peoples' way of attempting to limit the king's powers through law. Also, the people wanted to protect their privileges. -
Mayflower Compact Written
This was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony written by the Separatists (also known as the "Saints"). The compact freed them from religious persecution from King James. -
Petition of Right
This was a major English constitutional document that set specific liberties. It prohibited infringment and helped the subjects. -
Jamestown Settled
Jamestown was the first successful English settlement on the mainland of North America. It was founded in the coloney of Virginia and was named after King James. -
English Bill of Rights
This was a restatment in statutory form of the Declaration of Rights. It was presented to William and it invited him to join as part of a "sovereign" England. -
Stamp Act
This legislation requires a tax to be paid on the transfer of certain documents. When people pay, they will recieve an official stamp on their document which makes it legal. -
Albany Plan of Union
This was a proposal to create a unified government for the thirteen colonies. -
Boston Massacre
This tragic event was the fault of the British army. The British injured serveral people and killed many others i their attack. -
Boston Tea Party
This was a political protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston. The Sons were against the tax policy of the British goverment and the East India Company that controlled all the imported tea to the colonies. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were a series of laws passed by the British Parliament after the Boston Tea Party incident. It stripped the people of their self-goverment and some rights. -
First Continental Congress
This was a convention of delegates from the 12 colonies. They meet at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia. The convention was called in response to the passage of the Coercive Act. -
American Revolution Begins
This revolution was a political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century. The thirteen colonies joined forces to fight for freedom from the British Empire. Through this we now have the combined United States. -
Second Continental Congress
This was a meeting that strived to manage the warfare of the American Revolution.It supported the coloniel war effort and wanted to move towards independence. -
Declaration of Independence
This was a statement adopted by the Constitutional Congress which announced that the thirteen colonies regarded themselves as independent states. With this, the colonies were no longer a part of the British Empire. -
Articles Of Confederation
These articles were an agreement among the original thirteen states that established the United States as a confederation. It also recognized the states as "sovereign" and acted as the first constitution. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's rebellion was an armed uprising that took place in Massachutes. It was named after Daniel Shay, an American Revolutionary War vetern, who was a rebel leader. The protesters were unhappy with the way the goverment was working. The rebellion ended in June of 1787. -
Connecticut Compromise
This was an agreement that large and small states reached during the Constitutional Convention that defined the legislative structure and representation that each state would be under the United States. -
Constitutional Convention
This convention was in Philadelphia. It lasted until September 17th, 1787. It formed the Constitution. -
Philadelphia Convention
This convention addressed problems in governing the United States which had been operating under the Articles of Confederation following independence from Great Britiain. The convention ended September 17, 1787.
