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1215
Magna Carta
The first document to put into writing that a king and his government weren't above the law. King John of England had to sign it. -
Mayflower Compact
When the pilgrims came on the Mayflower they didn't have any sort of rules or government so they created the Mayflower Compact to try to keep peace within the colonists. -
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
Settlers of Connecticut created their own government under the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut. -
English Bill of Rights
Signed into law, the bill outlined specific constitutional and civil rights. Our constitution has a Bill of Rights based off of the English Bill of Rights. -
Period: to
French and Indian War
War with the French and Native Americans against the English. This caused a huge amount of war debt for England, resulting in high taxes for colonies, which started the war. -
Albany Plan of Union
First important proposal to unite the colonies. "Join or Die". Wasn't ever carried out. -
First Continental Congress
Meeting of delegates from 12/13 colonies who got together to discuss boycotting and other measures to retaliate against the Intolerable Acts. This was the first retaliation against the King. -
Second Continental Congress
This meeting created a government, with ambassadors, creating money, and creating the Continental Army. This is where they wrote the Declaration of Independence. -
Declaration of Independence
This told the English government that the Colonists were a separate country and it explained why they were. -
Articles of Confederation
The first constitution ratified that failed. -
Shay's Rebellion
Angry farmers rebelled against high taxes that they couldn't pay. -
Three-Fifths Compromise
It said that each slave counted as 3/5 of a vote. -
Virginia Plan
Plan for distribution of votes based off of population. -
New Jersey Plan
Meant that each state had an equal number of votes in a unicameral legislature.