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Sep 18, 1215
Magna Carta
A revolt by English nobility against the rule of King John was the reason for the creation of the Magna Carta which was signed by the king stating the king would respect federal rights and privaleges, uphold the freedom of of the church, and maintain the nation's laws. Magna Carta means "Great Charter" and was signed in Runneymead, England. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact, signed by 41 English colonists on the ship Mayflower, was the first written framework of government established the United States. The compact was drafted to prevent dissent amongst Puritans and non-separatist Pilgrims who had landed at Plymouth a few days earlier. -
Petition of Rights
This was a document signed by Charles the 1st granting certain rights to the subjects of England. Subjects do not have to pay taxes unless it is set by law in parliament. Also, no one shall be put in prison or have their things taken unless they break a law set by parliament. Members of the Royal Navy could not be housed in private homes except by consent as well. This petition was drafted as a result of the King overusing his rights in war, -
English Bill of Rights
William and Mary signed the English Bill of Rights, a new operation between the Parliament and the monarchs, leading to a greater measure of personal liberty and democracy in Britain.The Bill of Rights laid out certain basic rights for (at the time) all Englishmen such as no royal interfering with the law and freedom to petition the monarch without fear of retribution. -
Albany Plan of Union
The Albany Plan of Union was a proposal to create a unified government for the Thirteen Colonies, suggested by Benjamin Franklin. The colonial assemblies and the British representatives rejected the Albany Plan. Benjamin Franklin printed the first political cartoon in American
history, a woodcut of a severed snake entitled “Join, or Die,” in his newspaper. Franklin’s cartoon depicted the British North American colonies as a snake cut into eight segments, with each a colony or region in America. -
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French and Indian War
The major players in this conflict were Great Britain, France, and the American Indians. Some major battles were Battle of Fort Necessity, Battle of River Monongahela, and Battle of Fort Henry and William. The British ultimatley won the war but it was an expensive war that Britain needed to pay for. So they directly taxed the American people turning the relationship sour. -
King George III takes power
King George III changed the relationship between the colonies and Britian just by winning the French and Indian War. When the war was won, the king noticed the America was growing very rapidly and Britian had to pay for the war just fought. King George taxed the American people directly instead of asking for money. Americans felt like their rights were being smashed on so the relationship changed for brothers in arms to dislike very quickly. The picture is a painting of King George III. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act as Parliament worded it.The Stamp Act was a tax imposed by Parliament on American colonisits. This tax required them to pay tax on printed paper, such as legal documents, newspapers, licenses, and publications. Many colonial leaders dissapproved of the actt because they had no representation in Parliament. There were protests in the streets organized by regular citizens as well. -
Boston Massacre
Three colonists were killed on site when the Boston Massacre first started, and eight were wounded (two of whom died later) leaving a total of fie colonists killed from this event. British troops in Boston were to enforce taxes on paint, paper, tea, etc. and clamp down on local radicals. The troops' presence doesn't sit well with locals and led to street fights. -
Boston Tea Party
The political group responsible for this "party" was Samuel Adam's' Sons of Liberty. Parliament, outraged by the blatant destruction of British property, enacted the Intolerable Acts, in 1774. It closed Boston to merchant shipping, established formal British military rule in Massachusetts, made British officials immune to criminal prosecution in America, and required colonists to quarter British troops. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were several acts passed by parliament in an attempt to regain control in Massachusets. They passed these acts because of the Boston Tea Party, which destroyed a few hundred chests of tea. The acts stopped trade, for granted soldiers protection if they broke the law while stopping riots, forced colonists to house soldiers, and government officials would be appointed by the British in Massachusets. The colonies saw this as a violation of their rights. -
First Continental Congress
In response to the British Parliament's enactment of the Coercive Acts in the American colonies, the first session of the Continental Congress convenes at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia. Fifty-six delegates from all the colonies except Georgia drafted a declaration of rights and grievances and elected Virginian Peyton Randolph as the first president of Congress. Patrick Henry, George Washington, John Adams, and John Jay were among the delegates -
Lexington and Concord
A history channel excerpt on what happened.Lexington and Concord was a plan by Britain's General Gage to capture John Hancock and Samuel Adams in Lexington and then seize gunpowder in Concord. The plan was leaked and men like Paul Revere rode from town to town to warn them of the British advancement. Militias in the towns gathered to defend but were defeated by the British. The British did not expect resistance though so they retreated back to Boston, giving the colonists a boost in morale. -
Second Continental COngress
The second continental congress convened in Philadelphia in response to what happened at Lexington and Concord. Officials like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Hancock were there. They agreed to create a continental army led by George Washington to protect the colonists. They also authorized the printing of money and created a commitee to talk to foreign countries should they need help agains the british. They sent a petition for peace to King George the third, but it was ignored. -
Declaration of Independance
The text of the declaration.The Declaration of Independence is a paper written by Thomas Jefferson stating that the 13 British Colonies in America were considering themselves as free of British rule. instead, they would join together to create a new nation. It mostly explains their decision while asserting certain natural rights. -
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Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation are the precursor to current Constitution of the United States. They defined the roles of the States and Congress and how they interact. Under the Articles, they first president was John Hanson. -
The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the war between Britain and the United States. The United States was represented by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay. The British recognized the Declaration of Independence and gave America all the land between the Allegheny Mountains and the Mississippit River. The United States would stop persecuting Loyalists and would return their land and property to them. -
Start of Constitutional Convention
The constitutional convention was where delegates from all the states met in Philadelphia to restructure the government. Previously, a few of the states had met at Annapolis, but not enough were there to make any decisions so they called for a larger meeting in Philadelphia. George Washington was voted to preside over the Constitutional Convention. The modern plan of government was created here and 39 of the 55 delegates agreed on the plan, making it legal.
