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Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta
Otherwise known as the "Great Charter," this was the first document to challenge the authority of the King, opening him to the law's rules and giving defense to the people from feudal abuse. The document established well-known ideas that formed the U.S. Constitution today and also pronounced common policies, one such as "habeas corpus" meaning the universal right to due process. -
Jamestown Settled
This specific location is widely known for being the first permanent English settlement whereas it remained the capital of the Virginia Colony for approximately eight years. Hardships had frequently occured within the settlement such as unfamiliar climate, trouble in finding sufficient water/food, foreign diseases which led to death, and conflict with the previously settled Indians. These many Algonquian Indians were led by the chief Powhatan whereas relations with the English were rather harsh. -
Mayflower Compact is Written
This brief document was established by the passengers of the Mayflower in order to retain promising cooperation among the settlers. Majority rule of the men allowed the selection to be pronounced which gave structure to their shortly created "government." Within the first several lines, one may also find that they noted themselves still as "loyal subjects" to King James to prevent any sense of independence from the king. -
Petition of Right
This document was created by Sir Edward Coke, a member of Parliament at the time, in response to King Charles I disbanding Parliament, ruling on his own, and violating rights as a king. The Petition of Rights referenced Magna Carta and spoke of the king not being above the law. It told of the prohibition of unjust punishment, seizing of property, expensive fines, and the right to trial by jury. Charles I accepted it, yet soon disobeyed and was beheaded. -
English Bill of Rights
This bill was a precursor to the American Bill of Rights, and set out strict limits on the Royal Family's legal prerogatives such as a prohibition against arbitrary suspension of Parliament's laws. More importantly, it limited the right to raise money through taxation to Parliament. In December of 1689, it was accepted by the King and Queen, therefore dropping the concept of "divine rights" for the royalty power. -
Albany Plan of Union
This proposal was formed by Benjamin Franklin to the Albany Congress whereas he sought to create a formation of a strong unity within the colonies living under one direction and government. Franklin went forth in doing so in order to establish a sense of defense and power against threats such as the French and Indian War. -
Stamp Act
Passed by the British Parliament, this act was a new tax imposed on all American colonists whereas a tax was placed on any sort of printed paper being used. Such printed papers were newspapers, legal documents, licenses, and even decks of cards. The colonists did not appreciate this act considering that they were not being taxed by their representatives, posing as an unfair ordeal. Therefore, with some resolves made by the House of Burgesses, the act was defeated. -
Boston Massacre
This dreadful event occured on the fifth of March in 1770 where an exceedingly unwelcomed sentinel of British troops were occupying Boston which angered and provoked some group of Patriots. Antagonizing the British troop, the British retalliated with gunfire, killed three people, and wounded eight others. This happening played a significant role in ignition of the American Revolution. -
Boston Tea Party
In 1773, the Tea Act was passed by the British Parliament which placed a large taxation on tea which made colonists enraged considering they were not being taxed by their own elected representatives. In response, a group of colonists boarded British ships and dumped massive amounts of tea in the harbor due to the officials refusing to return it. Afterwards, Parliament responded with the Intolerable Acts, leading up to the Revolutionary War. -
Intolerable Acts
These unjust laws were created by King George III in response to the Boston Tea Party incident. These "punishments" involved specific uncivilized laws such as The Boston Port Bill which closed the Boston Harbor to everything except British ships, The Quartering Act where colonists of Boston would have to house British troops or they would be shot, and two other acts which involved a British governor running Boston and Canadian borders being cut off. -
First Continental Congress
This important, early American meeting involved 55 members of all American colonies except Georgia. Taking place in Philadelphia, much of the unity was inspired in response to the Intolerable Acts whereas the colonies responded to Britain that the colonies would cease exports to Britain if these acts were not repealed. It were a successfully implemented idea in attempts to breaking British colonial policy, but was diminished when the Revolutionary War took place in 1775. -
American Revolution Begins
Beginning with what was known as "the shot heard around the world," the Revolution started with a brief battle known as the Battle of Lexington. The British sought out Patriot leaders such as John Adams and John Hancock in hopes to tear down the American society representative by representative. With help of the famous man, Paul Revere, the leaders could flee, whereas the British were travelling across the colonies. Ironically, the British lost many in Lexington and were defeated in retreat. -
Second Continental Congress
Succeeding the First Continental Congress, this unification began shortly after the violence and warfare of the Revolutionary War. Posing as a very important meeting in American History, this organization developed war efforts and moved primarily towards independence, thus leading to the proper development and signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Also by ratifying the Articles of Confederation, the group was then known as the Congress of Confederation. -
Declaration of Independence
Adopted by the Continental Congress during the Second Continental Congress, this document serves as a major role in American society and independence today. Thomas Jefferson, selected by John Adams, was to create the original draft whereas the colonies would then declare themselves as independent states and no longer coordinated or attached to Great Britian with the proper explanation of doing so. -
Articles of Confederation
Often known as the states' first constitution, the Articles of Confederation served as a written agreement, uniting the thirteen states, and set up basic principles in which the states would be governed. Providing as an initial step in establishing government within the nation, the U.S. Constitution can often be found to build upon the Article's principles and ideas. -
Shay's Rebellion
This famously known rebellion took place on the 29th of August, 1786 due to economic difficulties resulting the Revolutionary War, lacking policies in response to save the states' debt problems, a no permanent currency system. Many protesters were veterans of the prior war and these opposers shut down courts to prevent tax/debt collection. Some of the rebellion's leaders were arrested which resulted in protestors organizing armed forces and taking lives and wounding citizens and officials. -
Constitutional Convention
Taking place in Philadelphia, this meeting was created in attempts to approach new ways of reforming the government while working under the Articles of Confederation. Much of the disputes within the convention were how to divide executive power, how to divide representation proportionally, and many other questions that led to a specific source that founds American laws today, the U.S. Constitution. -
Philadelphia Convention
( see Constitutional Convention ) -
Connecticut Compromise
Arising during the Constitutional Convention, this compromisation was put forth to end opposition between the Virginia and New Jersey Plan. The Virginia Plan sought to represent each state according to population size whereas the New Jersey Plan sought out representation in an equal manner of people for all states. The Connecticut Compromise created the Senate which had two seats per state and the House of Representatives which was based proportionally by state population.
