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Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta
This document, often refered to as the Grand Charter, was signed by the multiple Barons of King John within England. The Charter itself included many rights from the "Charter of Liberties", and also a few newer ones, such as the right that no freeman could be punished other then that of the law of the land. -
Mayflower Compact
Mayflower CompactThe purpose of the Mayflower Compact was to form a governing document under the Plymouth Colony, and establish a practical and flexible foundation for government. -
Petition of Rights
Human rights of freedom from royal interference from taxation, ability to elect members of parliament and freedom of speech. Signed by Charles I. -
English Bill of Rights
English Bill of RightsKing/Queen William & Mary of Orange signed the English Bill of RIghts in 1689. This docurment asserted that Englishmen had certain 'unalienable rights' under civil and political terms. -
Albany Plan of Union
Benjamin Franklin first suggested the Albany Plan of Union, and created a popular political cartoon "Join or Die" from it. The plan, overall, did not happen. -
French/Indian War
Britain, Britain-America, and France played the roles of the French/Indian War. Major battles within this seven-year war included Ticondaroga, The Assault on Fort Duquesne, and the Battle of Quebec. Britain was ultimately the winner, but the result of this war left the colonies in a brutal state. Their homeland was ruined, and the policies invoked by King George did them no kindness either. -
King George III Takes Power
King George III took power after the French and Indian War, and afterwards, sought to organize Britain's American Empire & stabalize relations with the Native Americans there. He formed the Royal Proclaimations of 1763. Americans were offended because it forbade exponential growth into areas west of the Appalachians, and put more focus on the Native American groups there. -
Stamp Act
Legal documents, licenses, commercial contracts, newspapers, pamphlets and playing cards were taxed by the British -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre involved the killing of nearly 5 colonists, and left 6 injured. The enforced acts that lead to this became known as the "Townshend Acts". -
Boston Tea Party
YouTube - The Story of Us, Boston Tea PartyThe Boston Tea Party was a militarized protest against British-made taxations. The political group "The Sons of Liberty", laid their hands upon large barrels of tea, tossing them overboard a British flagship. The British responded to this with negative effects on the colonists, and the actions here eventually lead to the Revoltionary War. -
Intolerable Acts
Passed laws to limit Massachusetts of self-government & historic rights until debt from the Boston Tea Party was repaid, which was also the cause for them. -
First Continental Congress
The many personalities that attended the First Continental Congress included all of the representatives from the 13 colonies, including a few, in not all, of the Founding Fathers. What had been established became known as the "Plan of Union". The event took place within the "Carpenters Hall". -
Lexington & Concord
Resulted in the Revolutionary War. Generals were John Parker, James Barrett, John Buttrick, William Heath, Joseph Warren and Issac Davis for the colonists and Francis Smith, John Pitcairn and Hugh Percy for the British. Also when Paul Revere rode in warning the colonists the that the British were marching towards them. -
The Second Continental Congress
Took place at the Pennsylvania State House. First ideas of the Declaration of Independance were tossed around. Ben Franklin, John Hancock and Thomas Jefferson were involved. -
Declaration of Independence
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Articles of Confederation
First president under the articles was Samuel Huntington. -
Treaty of Paris
Ben Franklin, John Jay, Henry Laurens and John Adams represented the US in its' signing.The U.S. gained land such as Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The British agreed to recognize the Declaration of Independence. -
Start of the Constitutional Convention
The Annapolis Convention was a meeting place to discuss amendments to the Articles of Confederation. The purpose of it was to revise the Articles of Confederation.
