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Jun 19, 1215
Magna Carta
King John of England sighned the Magna Carta into law at Runnymede near Windsor castle. This gave subjects basic legal and human rights, like a jury, a punishment fitting and not excessive to the crime and no taxation without representation. -
English Bill of Rights
William and Mary of Parliament signed the English Bill of Rights into law, which limits the powers of the crown, sets out the rights of Parliament and rules for freedom of speech in Parliament. It also re-established the liberty of protestants to have arms for their defense within the rule of law and condemned King James II. -
Mayflower Compact
This was signed by those on the ship named the Mayflower, which pledged allegiance to the king. -
Petition of Right
During the reign of King Charles I, in England, the parliment was able to pass the Petition of Right. This gave the subjects, under the king, protection from unlawful imprisonment and tax without consent from parliment. It was eventually signed by King Charles I -
Albany Plan of Union
Seven representatives from seven of the British American Colonies would come together to discuss the Albany Plan of Union. Although it never actually happened, it did inspire Benjamin Franklin to make the famous "Join or Die' political cartoon of a snake cut into seven parts, each representing the seven colonies. -
French and Indian War
A war broke out between British America and New France over the American Continent and the Britished would soon emerge victorious and would force the Acadians out of the Country. One of the major battles occured at Fort Necessity. -
King George III takes power
After the French and Indian War, King George III would strongly opposes the independence of the American Colonies and imposed policies, that were supported by Parliament, which would cause the American Revolution in 1775. -
Stamp Act
The British Government begins to impliment taxes on all paper goods, but the colonial leaders lashed back by threatening mob violence against tax collectors. The act was repealed in March 1766 -
Boston Massacre
A mob of sixty hecklers were protesting the Quartering Act of British troops in Boston. Soon some began throwing snowballs and the troops opened fire into the crowd, killing five civilians and injuring six others. -
Boston Tea Party
The Sons of Liberty politcal group organized the dumping of tea to protest the taxation of it. However the British decided to close the port of Boston until the debt of the dumped tea was repaid, it reduced Massachusetts right to self-government and allowed British troops to quarter any town in Massachusetts -
Intolerable Acts
Due to the destruction of Bristish property in the colonies the Intolerabel acts were enacted. The provisions of these acts include: closing Boston's port until the damages were repaid, restirction of democracy in Massachusetts, it required colonists to house Bristish troops on demand of the troops, and it extended freedom to worship to Catholics in Quebec. -
First Continental Congress
At Carpenters Hall, Peyton Randolph, Henry Middleton, Charles Thomson and some others would get together to discuss the boycotting of British goods and to provide a second Continental Congress. -
Lexington and Concord
America: The Story of Us's retelling of Lexington and ConcordThis is when the revolution began. Bristish troops were coming to confiscate the firearms of the American colonists but were fired upon by militia men.The major general involved was Paul Revere who made is famous "The British are coming!" ride, which alerted the militia to take up arms and fight back. -
Second Continental Congress
In Philidelphia, PA; the Second Continental Congress gathered together. With help from Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen they would dicsuss how to organize an army for the upcoming war against the British. -
Declaration of Independence
A five man comittee, including Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams, gathered together to draft a document to portray their intentions to the British government, and was passed by the Continental Congress on what we know as Independence Day. -
Articles of Confederation
Articles of ConfederationAfter 16 months of fighting between Maryland and Virgina over land claims, the Articles were passed and would serve as a guide for the nations government until the U.S. Constitution would be implemented in 1789 -
Treaty of Paris
Treaty of ParisAfter eight bloody years of fighting the British, the American Revolution eventually came to end, with the Americans on the winning side. With John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and John Jay; the British signed over the territory between the Allegheny Mountains and the Mississippi River to the Americans. The British also recognized the Declaration of Independence. -
Start of Constitutional Convention
After the Articles of Confedertation had been in place for six years, the talk of a peaceful overthrow of the government, as stated in the Articles, began. However the original purpose of the convention was to discuss trade issues between Maryland and Virginia
