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1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta is a document that limited the power of the government. It also established a trial by jury. The Magna Carta gave us four individual rights as well. -
Jamestown Founded
Jamestown was an English settlement established in 1607. It would later become the first successful English settlement in the New World. It showed Europeans that they could live and thrive in the Americas. -
Virginia House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the first elected legislative assembly. This formed the idea for a new type of government. This would be called a Representative Government because you could elect your own representatives. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower compact introduced the new idea of a social contract. It also introduced a form of self-government. This means the people rule and no government will be needed. -
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut was known as the first written constitution in North America. It was a social contract that set up a new form of governing. This was called self-government. This means the colony self-governs itself and has no government. -
Navigation Acts
The Navigation Acts were made to restrict the 13 colonies' trade They made it to where the colonies could only trade with England. They also prohibited factories in America. This caused colonists to be angered which lead to smugglers and pirates. -
English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights limits the powers of the king or queen. They also state the rights an liberties of people. They give us our basic Civil Rights. -
Zenger Trial
John Peter Zenger criticized the governor of New York for fixing an election. This would lead to his arrest and trial. During his trial, his lawyer, Andrew Hamilton, stated that people should have the right to speak the truth. The judge agreed with him and John Peter Zenger was innocent. This trial would later lead to the first amendment. The first amendment would have freedom of speech and freedom of the press because of this trial. -
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French and Indian War / Seven Year War
The French and Indian war or the Seven Year War was fought by the French and and their Indian allies against the British and that Indian allies. This was fought for the control of the Ohio River Valley. The British win and the 13 colonies expand westward because the French were kicked out. -
Treaty of Paris 1763
The Treaty of Paris was signed to end the French and Indian War. This kicked the French out of North America. Spain and the British both gain land from it. -
Proclamation Line
After the French and Indian War, the French were kicked out but not the natives. The natives were angry that the British were taking their land, so they would attack them. The King was tired of wasting his money and troops to protect the colonists. Then he imposed the Proclamation Line which did not allow any colonists to west passed the Appalachian Mountains. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act placed taxes or tariffs on sugar and molasses. This caused many colonists to start smuggling goods. The King declared that their would be harsh punishment for this treason. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act placed taxes on marriage, dice, wills, playing cards, certificates, and newspapers. This also stated that all documents needed a Royal Stamp which costed money. -
Quartering Acts
The Quartering Acts requires the colonists to house the British troops. You also had to take care of them as well. The colonists were also angered by the act. -
Townshend Acts
The British repealed all the previous acts to make the colonists happier. Then, they just made a new act that placed taxes on the same things. Townshend Acts imposed duties on glass, lead, paints, paper and tea imported into the colonies. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre occurred in 1770. Colonists were rioting and harassing the British troops. There was a fire down the street, and someone yelled fire. The British troops though it was an order to fire, so they fired on the colonists. This resulted in 5 deaths. Crispus Attucks, an African-American, was the fist African-African to die for the revolution. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act placed taxes on all tea. This actually lowered the prices of tea, but it unemployed many tea companies. The colonists did not like this and rebelled. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea part was when the colonists dressed up as Native Americans and threw crates of tea into the sea. The Sons of Liberty organized this protest. -
1st Continental Congress
The 1st Continental Congress was a meeting of all 13 colonies except for Georgia. They discussed the resistance to the Parliament. They also discussed the Coercive Acts. -
Intolerable Acts / Coercive Acts
The Coercive Acts were made to punish the colonists for the Tea Party. The colonists did not like the act, so they would call it the Intolerable Acts. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
The Battle of Lexington and Concord is also known as "The shot heard around the world." This is considered the first battle of the Revolutionary War. The colonists were untrained and had limited supplies, yet they still fought for independence. -
2nd Continental Congress
During the Second Continental Congress, they adopted the Declaration of Independence. This was a list of complaints to the King. This demonstrated a form a social contract. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill is the second major battle of the American Revolution. The colonists were low on supplies. The commander ordered the troops to only shoot once they saw the whites of the British troops' eyes. He ordered this to save ammo. The British will win the Battle. -
Common Sense Published
Common Sense was written by Thomas Paine. This urged all the colonists to choose the patriot side. He wanted them to pick a side. He explained why there is no need for a King. -
Declaration of Independence
This document declared the independence of the 13 colonies from Great Britain. This was mostly written by Thomas Jefferson. “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness….” -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga is known as the turning point of the Revolutionary War. This is when the French agreed to join us and fight with us. The colonists and Americans won. -
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Winter of Valley Forge
The Winter of Valley Forge was a harsh time for the colonists. They were low on supplies and it was so cold that some even died. They developed diseases. Marquis de Lafayette helped George Washington through these times and urged the French to help. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first Constitution of the United States. This established the function of the national government for the United States. -
Battle of Yorktown
This is the last major battle of the American Revolution. The colonists surround the British. The British are forced to surrender to them which finally ends the war. -
Treaty of Paris 1783
After a long fought war, the Treaty of Paris is signed and grants the United States of America their independence. Great Britain would no longer have control of the 13 colonies anymore.
