-
Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
Signed By: King John of England in WIndsor, England near the bank of the Thames River.
What It Did: Was forced upon the king by a group of his subjects in an attempt to limit his power and protect the rights of the people. It eventually became the stepping stone of constitutional law. -
Mayflower Compact
Date: Signed on the Mayflower ship on 11/11/1620
Desription: 41 of the 101 passengers of the Mayflower ship signed this document, while anchored near what is now Cape Cod. Essential established rules and regulations for the people of the ship to keep law and order amongst them. (Majoritarian concept)
Purpose: Establish a system/government for the new colonists to live by for the sake of order and survival. The compact created a majoritarian/democratic system. -
Petition of Rights
Rights Granted: Protenction from unjust seizure of property; Imprisionment; right to trial by jury; and protection from unjust punishments.
Was written and signed by Sir Edward Coke -
English Bill of Rights
Date: Signed on 12/16/1689
Significance: Gave many new rights to the people
People involved in signing: The bill was presented to William and Mary by the Convention Parliment.
Rights that were given:
1. King/Queen can not interfer with the law
2. No taxation by Royal Prerogative
3. Freedom to petition the monarch w/o fear of retribution
4. No royal interference in the peoples' right to bear arms
5. No royal interference in the election of members of the parliment -
French and Indian War
AKA 7 Years War
Was mainly between British America and New France
GEORGE WASHINGTON
Battle of Jumonville Glen: Started the war
Battle of Lake George: Bloody battle between Fort Edward and Fort William Henry
Battle of Quebec: British Commander Gen. Wolfe is killed
Treaty of Paris: France gives up all N. American posessions, land west of Miss. River goes to Spain, East and Canada goes to England.
British gained a lot of American territory, America militias became "People's Armies" -
Albany Plan of Union
Was suggested by Ben Franklin - was supposed to create a unified government for the 13 original colonies. It was adopted by most.
John or Die: Created by Ben Franklin, each segment of the snake resembled a colony, represented how all the colonies should be unified as one. -
Stamp Act
Taxes were placed on every piece of printed paper that was used. Colonial leaders feared that it would lead to more strict taxes in the future. -
Boston Massacre
5 Male civilians wee killed.
Colonists crowded around British soldiers who were stationed there and verbally abused them and threw things at them until some of them shot into a crowd, without orders, and killed 3 people instantly. 2 others died later from wounds. -
Boston Tea Party
Was organized by the Sons of Liberty in Boston.
They destroyed an entire ship of tea in protest of the Tea Act, which placed a tax on tea.
The British were appalled, and in result they closed the port of Boston and established the Coercive Acts. -
Intolerable Acts
Was a result of the Boston Tea Party. British closed Boston Port until the colonists paid for the damages caused. British cut all ties between colonists involvement in their government, and they also could house British troops in American homes. -
First Continental Congress
Convention of delegates from 12 colonies (not Georgia) to discuss the Coercove Acts, which were installed after the Boston Tea Party.
Took place in Carpenter's Hall in Philly
Urged each colonie to train and establish it's own militia
In revolution of the Intolerable Acts, the colonies chose to boycott British goods, as well as sending 3 letters to Quebec. -
Lexington and Concord
Lead to the start of the Revolutionary War.
Major Generals: Hugh Percy, Francis Smith, John Parker, and James Barsett.
Famous event when Paul Revere rode in on his horse screaming "The British Are Coming!" -
2nd Continental Congress
Took place in the State House in Philly. Colonists decided to completely split ties with the British and become independent.
Major Colonial Leaders: John Hancock, Ben Franklin, G. Washington, Thomas Jefferson -
Declaration of Independence
Written by Thomas Jefferson
Was written in 3 parts: The Preamble, then the List of Grievances, and then the actual Declaration. -
Articles of Confederation
John Hanson was the first president under the AoC.
3 Failures: No executive leader of the gov, congress didnt have the power to install taxes, and congress had no juristiction of enforcing laws on the other states.
3 Successes: Settling land disputes in the Ohio Valley, it was a stepping stone towards the current US Constitution, and settling disputes over territory. -
Treaty of Paris
John Adams, Ben Franklin, and John Jay represented the US in Paris This allowed the colonists to be able to expand westward, and the British finally acknowleged and accepted the Declaration of Independence -
Start of Constitutional Convention
Not enough representatives showed up to the Annapolis Convention, so the colonists held a larger convention in Philly. The original plan was to establish a more financially independent country/government -
King George III Takes Power
How King George 3 changed the relationship w/ the colonies after the French Indian War - He set up troops in America, and attempted to take control of their country as he saw their rapid population growth as a threat to the British.
