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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
Magna Carta was one of the most important documents of Medieval England. It was agreed to by King John of England. It states that a King had to follow the laws of the land and it guaranteed the rights of individuals against the wishes of the King. -
Jamestown settled
A proposition made to begin a settlement in Virginia. -
Mayflower Compact written
The first agreement in America for self government to be created and enforced. -
Petition of Right
A refusal by Parliament to finance the King's foreign policy. It was a statement of civil liberties, sent to Charles I, by the English Parliament. -
English Bill of Rights
The Bill creates separation of powers, and limits the King and Queen power. -
Albany Plan of Union
Albany Plan of Union was a plan to create a unified government for the Thirteen Colonies. This was suggested by Ben Franklin. -
Stamp Act
Required colonists to pay a tax on every piece of paper they printed. -
American Revolution begins
An exchanged gunfire at Lexington Concord. It was described as "the shot heard around the world". It signaled the start of the American Revolution. -
Boston Massacre
The killing of five colonists by regulars. -
Boston Tea Party
The Sons of Liberty and Samuel Adams boarded three ships in the Boston harbor and tossed 342 chests of tea overboard. It pushed both sides closer to war. This resulted in the passage of the punitive Coercive Acts in 1774. -
Intolerable Acts
Meant to punish the Massachusetts colonists for throwing a tea shipment into the Boston Harbor. -
First Continental Congress
A meeting of delegates from 12 colonies. -
Second Continental Congress
Managed by the colonial war effort and moved the U.S. towards Independence. -
Declaration of Independence
A statement written by Thomas Jefferson declaring the freedom of all thirteen American colonies from Great Britain. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles created a loose confederation of sovereign states and a weak central government, leaving most of the power with the state governments. A copy was sent to each of the thirteen states for ratification. -
Shay's Rebellion
Led by Daniel Shay, it protested the foreclosures of farms for debt. -
Philadelphia Convention
Resulting in this convention was the United States Constitution. -
Connecticut Compromise
An agreement that defined the legislative structure and representation that each state would have under the U.S. Constitution.
