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Jun 18, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was signed by King John in England. This document protected the poeple's priveleges and limited the kings's power over them. This is considered an influence on the constitutional law today and one of the most important legal documents in the history of democracy. This gave churches the right to be free from governemnt interference, and gave citizens the right to own property and be protected form taxes. -
Mayflower Compact
This compact was the first written framework of government for the United States. The pilgrims traveled to America to pratice their own religion, so the purpose of the Mayflower Compact was to form a stable self-governement and sign onto abide by any laws and regulations. The compact is named after the Mayflower, which is the boat they sailed to the United States on. The document has been lost but has been recreated in different forms. -
Petition of Rights
Many rights ere granted to the people such as: 1. That no freeman should be forced to pay any tax, loan, or benevolence, unless in accordance with an act of parliament 2. That no freeman should be imprisoned contrary to the laws of the land 3.That soldiers and sailors should not be billeted on private persons 4. Commissions to punish soldiers and sailors by martial law should be abolished. Charles the first signed this petition. -
English Bill of Rights
This was a doument that limited the power of the english rulers signed by Queen Mary and King William of Orange. The document stated that english men had certain rights but religious freedom was very limited. This gave citizens freedom of speech in Parliament, required regular elections for parliament, and reestablished protestants to be able to have arms for their defense. This made it possible for citizens to voice their opinions witout fear of punishment and was a step toward democracy. -
Albany Plan of Union
Benjamin Franklin suggested the idea that there needs to be a unified government. This plan never actually happened due to parliament's guidelines. Benjamin Franklin created a famous political cartoon that states "Join or Die". The eight segments of this snake represent the eight colonies at the time. -
French and Indian War (Part 2)
THis also opened up the Mississippi River Valley to westward expansion. Ultimately, the British won the battle. -
French and Indian War
http://www.history.com/topics/french-and-indian-war
This was a seven year war fought by the English and the French over who would have absolute power of North America. This war was rooted in the fact that there were rivalries among American Colonies and that France had greater success in winning the support of the Indians. In July 1758 the British won their first victory at Louisbourg, and a month later took fort at Frontenac. This strengthened the American colonies by removing European rivals -
King George III Takes Power
King George had a longer reign than any other brirtish monarch, and was involved in conflicts in Europe, the Americas and Asia. He believed that the colonists should be held responsible for the cost of the war, so he started taxing the colonists to pay for it. This was eventually one of the causes of the Revolutionary War. -
Stamp Act
This act imposed a tax on all paper documents in the colonies, it came at a time when the British Empire was deep in debt from the Seven Year War. The colonial leaders did not react kindly to this. They argued that only their own representitve assemblies could tax them. Colonists also thought this Act was unconstitutional and resorted in a violent mob. -
Boston Massacre
The boston massacre was a culmination of tensions created by the taxation imposed by the Townshed Acts. This event killed 5 people, The people objected that the taxes were a violation of the charter and the constitutional rights of british subjects. -
Boston Tea Party
Boston Tea Party
This was an event organized by the Sons of Liberty to protest against the taxes made on tea. They dressed as indians and around midnight poured tea into the harbor. The british responded by issuing the Coercive acts of 1774 to punish the colony and Boston for the Tea party and for acts of resistance. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were five acts cause by the Boston Tea Party. Britian was really mad at all of the wasted tea and the colonists' disobedience. One of the acts shut down Boston Harbor for trade, which greatly affected the colonists. They lost money and jobs. The Intolerable Acts ruined the government that the colonists had created. All of their hard work was gone. These were the last major acts passed before the Revolutionary War. -
First Continental Congress
This event was in response to the Coercive acts and took place at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia. Some of the major people involved were Patrick Henry, George Washington and John Adams. Here, they drafted a declaration of rights that elected Virginian Peyton Randolph as the first president of congress. -
Lexington and Concord
As a result to these conflicts the British were fastly retreating under intense fire. Paul Revere as one of the major generals involved. Paul Revere had much to do with this event his full intensions were to warn terrified people that war was riding out to them and they needed to prepare. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Some ideas that came about at this meeting were talking about managing the war effort, and moving increasingly towards independence. Some of the colonial leaders who were involved were as follows Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold. -
Declaration of Independence
With the Revolutionary War at its peak, the people of congress were faced with the fact that people wanted freedom from british rule. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin drafted the Declaration of Independence. -
The Treaty of Paris
John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, and Henry Laurens all represented the United States in the signing. The United States expanded west, with two major border adjustments, one each with colonies of the United Kingdom and Spain. The document that the British finally recognized was the preliminary articles of peace. Active link: http://www.history.com/topics/treaty-of-paris-1783 -
Start of Constitutional Convention
Delegates at the Convention created a reform report that was sent to Congress and the states with a request for further discussion. The request led to the Philadelphia Convention of 1787.Its purpose was to lobby for change to the Articles of Confederation.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO7FQsCcbD8 -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were the United States' first constitution. The very first president under the articles was John Hanson.
