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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
Manga Carta is a document which limits the kings power. It was signed by King John at Runnymede. By signing it, he agreed to rule by feudal law. It gave people the right to a fair trial. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower COmpact was a document signed by colonists on the Mayflower ship. This document created the first framework for the government of the United States, and was meant to keep peace between Puritains and non-separatist Pilgrams. -
Petition of Rights
PETITION RIGHTS- that no freeman should be forced to pay any tax, loan, or benevolence, unless in accordance with an act of parliament;
- that no freeman should be imprisoned contrary to the laws of the land;
- that soldiers and sailors should not be billeted on private persons;
- commissions to punish soldiers and sailors by martial law should be abolished.
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English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights was enacted by Parliment, and signed by King William III. It gave people civil and political rights, like requiring regular election of parliment, and allowed for the people to petition against the monarch. -
Albany Plan of Union
The Albany Plan of Union was writted by Benjiman Franklin, in hopes of uniting the colonies. Though it was voted down by the colonists. The popular political cartoon "Join, or Die" is often associated with this meeting, and was created by Benjamin Franklin. -
King George III Takes Power
After the French and Indian War, the king and parliment, believed the the Colonies should be responsible for the debt as well, and placed many high taxes, which created much tension, and protest.
taxesAfter -
Stamps Act
Parliment placed taxes on printed paper. Taxed items included legal documents, lisences, commercail contracts, newspapers, pamphlets, and playing cards. Colonial leader weren't able to send representatives to parliment, and had no influence over what taxes were placed, or raised. -
French and Indian War
This War was between the British and the French, and took place with in the colonies. The British won their first big battle at Louisburg, they later took control of Fort Frontenac, and then won again at Quebec. In the end the British won, These battles strengthened the colonies sense of independence, without the threat of other European countries surrounding them. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre, occuered when colonists were harrassing british soldiers, and protesting against the Townshend Acts. and the British shot at them. Only five colonists died. -
Boston Tea Party
Sons of Liberty protested against high tax prices on tea, by dumping about 342 chests of tea into the harbour. The British responded by closing the boston ports, and ruining the government of massachusetts.
Boston Tea Party Video -
Intolerable Acts
The British passed these acts because they were deeply in debt, and believed that the American colonies should pay a portion. These acts closed boston ports from trade, restricted colonists ability to form government, commities, and town meetings, allowed british to place troops in the homes in colonists, let british officails to have trials in Britain rather than colonies, and put Tomas Gage, a loyalist, to be govener of the colonists. -
First Continental Congress
The frist continental congress met in Philledelphia, after Parliment passed the Coervice Acts. 56 delegates from the colonies, except Georgia met here, to write a declaration of rights and grievences. Peyton Randolph was elected the first president of congress, and George Washinton, Patrick Henry, John Jay, and John Adams were among the other delegates. -
Lexington and Concord
Nearly 200 british troops were killed or injured in this battle, by American snipers who were in trees and behind rocks. This is considered the first battle of the American Revolution. Colonel Smith, Major Pitcaione, and Lord Percy were all major generals within this battle. Paul Revere had warned the villages along the route of the british coming from concord to congress. -
Second Continental Congress
The Declaration of Independence is a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the 13 American colonies, then at war with Great Britain, regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. Instead they formed a union that would become a new nation—the United States of America. John Adams was a leader in pushing for independence, which was unanimously approved on July 2. A committee had already drafted the formal declara -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the 13 American colonies, then at war with Great Britain, regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. Instead they formed a union that would become a new nation—the United States of America. John Adams was a leader in pushing for independence, which was unanimously approved on July 2. A committee had already drafted the formal declara -
Articles of Confederation
VideoThe Articles of Confederation, formally the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, was an agreement among the 13 founding states that established the United States of America as a confederation of sovereign states and served as its first constitution. -
The Treaty of Paris
This treaty was between the United States and Britain, and marked the end of the Revolutionary war.Peace negotiations began in April of 1782. Britain recognized the Declaration of Independence. America was represented by John Jay, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin. The Treaty gave the U.S. all the land from the Mississippi River to the Atlantic Ocean, and from Canada to Florida (shown in photo). -
Start of Constitutional Convention
The Annapolis Convention was a meeting in 1786 at Annapolis, Maryland, of 12 delegates from five states (New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia) that unanimously called for a constitutional convention. The formal title of the meeting was a Meeting of Commissioners to Remedy Defects of the Federal Government. Long dissatisfied with the weak Articles of Confederation, Alexander Hamilton of New York played a major leadership role. He drafted its resolution for a constitutional c
