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Magna Carta

Jun 12, 1215

The Magna Carta was a document in England that included trial by jury and due process of law. This ensured the power of monarchy was not absolute. This is where we got trial by jury and due process of law

The Mayflower Compact

Nov 11, 1620

This was the first governing document of plymouth colony.

Petition of Rights

Jun 7, 1628

This document made the King of England unable to punish any person unless his peers agreed, or by the law of land. Our country also follows this same rules.

Navigation Act

Jan 1, 1651

This act restricted use of foreign ships for trade between Britain and it's colonies. This meant that The colonies in America couldn't trade with countries in Europe.

English Bill of Rights

Dec 16, 1689

This document gave the U.S. the following ideas:
-freedom of speech
-all elections are free
-levying of money not without parliament (government) consent
-right to petition the king (president)
-freedom of excessive bail/cruel and unusual punishment

Proclamation of 1763

Oct 7, 1763

This document made it impossible for Americans to settle anywhere past the Appalachian mountain range.

Sugar Act

Apr 5, 1764

This document put taxes on sugar/molasses, thus the beginning of taxes in America as we know it.

Stamp Act

Mar 22, 1765

This document put taxes on all legal documents, certain business agreements, and newspapers. Once again, one of the first examples of taxes as we know it here in America. This brought us stamps.

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

This event was how the Pilgrims protested the British's control of the sea trade and taxes. It was America's first act of trying to become independent.

Coercive Acts

Mar 28, 1774

These acts were used to try and restore order in Massachusetts after the Boston Tea Party of 1773. These acts included:
-The Boston Port Act
-Massachusetts Government Act
-Administration of Justice Act
-Quartering Act

First Continental Congress

Period: Sep 5, 1774 to Oct 26, 1774

This was a group of representives who wanted to finally have resolutions with England. This was one of our first steps towards independence from England.

First Shots at Lexington/Concord

Apr 19, 1775

This event was the start of the Revolutionary war, and America's fight for freedom.

Second Continental Congress

May 5, 1775

This group was Americas first national government for all of 5 years.

Declaration of Independence

Jul 4, 1776

This is the document that formally declared the United States of America free, once and for all.