-
Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta (Latin for "Great Charter") was a charter of liberties signed by King John in Runnymede to limit the power of English nobles. At the time, there was the threat and beginning of a civil war, which forced the King to sign the Magna Carta to bring peace. The document mostly put regulations on the property rights of barons and other wealthy people, but Clause 39 of the Magna Carta ensures justice for all people. This image depicts King John signing the Magna Carta at Runnymede. -
Mayflower Compact
After arriving in America on the Mayflower, the "Pilgrims" realized that they were outside of the area they had contracted with England, so they established the Mayflower Compact, saying that all signers of the Compact had to approve of whatever form of government would be established upon disembarkment. This bas relief depicts the passengers of the Mayflower signing the Compact. -
Petition of Rights
The Petition of Rights of England was created to set out the basic rights of the people that the King could not infringe upon. The subjects did not have to provide taxes without an Act of Parliament, be detained without good reason, or house soldiers without consent. King Charles I signed this document. This photo is of the Petition of Rights. -
English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights was created to put limits on the Crown and rules for the function of Parliament, along with making William and Mary joint rulers of England. As for the people, they were granted the rights of no interference by royals, no taxation by the Royal Prerogative,, freedom to petition the monarchy, the freedom of speech in Parliament, and the right to no excessive bail/cruel and unusual punishment, among others. This is an image of the English Bill of Rights. -
Albany Plan of Union
Proposed by Benjamin Franklin, the Albany Plan of Union's goal was to unify the thirteen colonies under one government. The plan fell through, but the "Join or Die" cartoon made by Benjamin Franklin is still famous to this day. The famous "Join or Die" cartoon. -
Period: to
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War (Seven Years' War) took place between Britain and France. Major battles include the battles of Ft. Necessity, Ft. Duquesne, Louisburg, Quebec, and Montreal. Britain "won" the war and signed a peace contract with the French. As for North America, more land than ever was gained by the British, increasing their power in the area. -
King George III Takes Power
After the death of his grandfather, King George II, George III became the ruler of Great Britain. He had a large part in the French-Indian War (Seven Years War), which was detrimental to the relationship between the colonists and the British because the British gained even more power in North America afterward. A painting of King George III. -
Stamp Act of 1765
The Stamp Act of 1765 imposed a direct tax on ALL paper documents in the American colonies. The colonies were in an uproar, causing petitions to be issued and resolutions to be passed by the leaders while the colonists engaged in public acts of resistance. The skull and crossbones was used by journalists predicting the end of newspapers because of the Act. -
Boston Massacre
British soldiers had been called to Boston to enforce the Townshend Acts, but when a crowd of citizens heckled a sentry, the soldiers opened fire on the crowd. Five people died in the so-called "massacre." An engraving of the events of the Boston Massacre. -
Boston Tea Party
You really CAN SparkNote everything!On this night, a group consisting of Samuel Adams and some Sons of Liberty disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians and dumped 342 chests of British tea into Boston Harbor in protest of the Tea Act. The British then knew that Massachusetts was the heart of the resistance, which is why they later implanted the Coercive Acts of 1774. This is a lithograph depicting the "Destruction of the Tea." -
Intolerable Acts
Check out John Green's explanation of the events leading up to the Revolution, including the Intolerable Acts.In response to the events of the Boston Tea Party, the British passed the Coercive (Intolerable) Acts as punishment for what Massachusetts did. The acts closed the Boston Harbor, restricted the government of Massachusetts, made British officials immune to punishment in MA, and forced the colonists to house British soldiers. A cartoon depicting the Acts as the rape of a woman (the colonies). -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was called in Philadelphia, PA to organize a resistance to the Coercive (Intolerable) Acts. Major players included John Adams, George Washington, and John Jay. They wanted to form a boycott of British imports and petition King George III. They also wanted to establish a Second Continental Congress. A painting of the First Continental Congress. -
Lexington and Concord
This was the kickoff of the American Revolution, and started the war that would continue for 8 years. The major generals involved included the British Francis Smith and the Massachusetts minutemen. This battle is also the story behind Paul Revere's ride ("The British are coming!"). 19th century depiction of the battle. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia, PA in 1775, after the beginning of the American Revolution. They were able to establish the Continental Army, with George Washington as Commander in Chief. Leaders involved in the Second Continental Congress include Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and Thomas Jefferson. A portrayal of the Second Continental Congress. -
Declaration of Independence
The full text transcript of the Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence was a formal statement that the colonists were going to be independent from the British and start their own government. (It also starred in a Nicolas Cage movie) John Hancock's famous signature on the Declaration of Independence. -
Period: to
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the original Constitution, creating a confederation of soverign states. Under the articles, John Hanson was the first president of the United States. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War and officially granted independence to the United States. John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay represented the US at the negotiations. The United States was given the land between the Allegheny Mountains and the Mississippi River by Great Britain. Also, the British finally recognized the Declaration of Independence, giving the United States freedom to do as they please. The seals on the Treaty. -
Start of Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention originally started to revise the Articles of Confederation, but quickly escalated into the creation of the United States Constitution. The Annapolis Convention took place a year before and called for this event (the Constitutional Convention), which is one of the most important in American history. Speaking at the Constitutional Convention.
