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Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta is a document that gave rights to the inhabitants of England and limited the kings power. It was signed by King John of England and his barons at Runnymede. The charter gave the people of England the freedom of the English Church and the right to due process. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was signed on the Mayflower by all adult male passengers. The purpose of this document was to establish a government so that the colonists wouldn't rebel because they didn't have anyone in power over them. -
Petition of Rights
The Petition of Rights gave certain things that the King was prohibited from infringing upon the people. Some rights granted to the subjects included restriction of martial law, no imprisonment with cause, and no non-parlimentary taxation. Charles I signed the document. -
English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights was signed by William and Mary and the members of Parliament. This document limited the power of the crown and gave power to parliament. It gave the right to petition the monarch and the right to bear arms. -
French and Indian War
The French and Indian war was primarily fought between the colonies of British America and New France.
video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mphUZDdMpZA -
Albany Plan of Union
The Albany Plan of Union was a plan to create a unified government for the thirteen colonies, proposed by Benjamin Franklin. Franklin also created a famous political cartoon "Join, or Die" that is associated with this meeting. -
King George III takes power
King George III was in power during the American Revolution. After the French and Indian war, Great Brittain was in debt, and tried to make up their deficit by taxing the colonies. This upset the colonies who wanted representation in Great Brittains government. -
The Stamp Act
Summary of the Act The Stamp Act was imposed by Great Britain in 1765. It taxed anything printed by the colonists, from legal documents to licenses other forms. The colonial leaders were furious and the Stamp Act was finally repealed on February 21st. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was an event in which British Army soldiers killed 5 civilians and injured 6 others. The soldiers were being harassed by colonists while enforcing unpopular Parliament legislation. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a political protest by the Sons of Liberty against the tax policy of the British government, in which members of the group destroyed the tea by throwing it into the Boston Harbour. The British government responded with the Intolerable Acts which ended local self government. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were imposed by Britain after the Boston Tea party occured. They served as kind of a punishment for the colonies destroying the tea and throwing it into the harbor. The acts closed the British harbor and made attempts to make housing better for British soldiers in the colonies and also to tried to alter the government to bring it under the control of Britain's government. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a convention of delagates from twelve colonies. They met as a response to the Coercive acts. They were ultimately unsuccessful, so a second Continental Congress was convened the following year. -
Lexington and Concord
General Gage of Britain had a plan to capture Sam Adams and John Hancock in Lexingotn and the move to Concord to get gunpoweder. American spies found out about the plan and put two lanterns in a steeple to warn that the British were coming by sea. The Colinists forced the British to retreat to Boston, killing many along the way. The famous Paul Revere rode on horseback to warn the countryside that the British were coming. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress had representitaves from all thirteen colonies. They met in Philidelphia beginning in 1775. From this the Declaration of Independence was developed. Notable colonial leaders invlolved include Ben Franklin, John Hancock and Thomas Jefferson. -
Declaration of Independence
Declaration History The Declaration was drafted to give a formal statement of the colonies intentions with the war and the idea of becoming their own independent nation. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles established the functions of the government. Under the Articles, John Hanson would be the first president. -
Treaty of Paris
The treaty of Paris is the treaty that ended the American Revolutionary War. At the signing, America was represented by Ben Franklin, John Jay, Henry Laurens, and John Adams. Americas boundaries included everything from the Atlantic in the East to the Mississippi in the West. The British finally recognized the Declaration. -
Start of Constitutional Convention
The Convention was originally created to revise the Articles of Confederation. George Washington was elected to preside over the Convention. Instead of completing the original goal of revising the articles, the Constitution was written and still stands today.
