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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
King John signed the Magna Carta as well as the barons who wanted to protect their property rights against the king. The Magna Carta was signed in a field at Runny Meade. The rights that the people acquired were right to a fair trial and everyone has basic rights -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was the first written form of governmnet that was signed by 41 English colonists when they traveled over from England to explore new lands. It established soverignity in the new settlement, these colonists were free of English law. -
Petition of Rights
An English constitutional document, written to control the King’s power and keep him from infringing on specific liberties of the subjects, Including: 1) No freeman should be forced to pay any tax, loan, or benevolence, unless in accordance with an act of parliament 2) No freeman should be imprisoned contrary to the laws of the land 3) Soldiers and sailors should not be billeted on private persons 4) Commissions to punish soldiers and sailors by martial law should be abolished. Charles I signed. -
Englsih Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights was created and enacted by the English Parliament and signed into law by King William in 1689. Some of the rights that were given to the subjects include the right to due process and the Writ of Habeus Corpeus. -
French and Indian War
The major powers in this war were Great Britian, France, the Colonies, and the Native Americans. Great Britian and France were fighting for power and land in the New World. The major battles were the Battle of Fort Dusquene, the Battle of Fort Necessity, and the Capture of the city of Quebec. Ultimately the British won because the French gave the British their lands east of the Mississippi. -
Albany Plan of Union
The Albany Plan of Union was proposed by Benjamin Franklin to try and construct a more centralized form of government in America. The original response seemed like a positive one but, the colonies refused to support the plan because they did not want to give up their territorial power. The famous political cartoon is the Join, or Die political cartoon by Benjamin Franklin that emphasizes the necessity of union, without it we are just pieces of a snake. -
King George III takes power
Took power after his father, George II died. He was in power during the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. As a result of the French and Indian War, King George III taxed the colonists to pay for the damages from the French and Indian War. He also tried to pit the Native Americans against the colonists. -
Stamp Act
This was a direct tax from Britain on the American colonies. It taxed printed materials, like newspapars, legal documents, magazines, and other paper. Cards and dice were also taxed. The colonial leaders initial reaction was actually positive, but soon turned to turmoil as the colonists realized how this would infringe on their rights even more than the Sugar Act. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre occured because of the Townshend Acts. These were taxes on various every day items like paper and ink. In additon to the Townshend Acts, colonists were antagonizing the British guards and the British soldiers were ordered to fire on innocent colonists. Only five colonists were killed. -
Boston Tea Party
The Sons of Liberty were protesting the tax on tea as well as revolting against the Boston Massacre. The Sons of Liberty disguised themselves as Native Americans and dumped all of the ships cargo into the Boston Harbor. The British responded to the Boston Tea Party with the Intolerable Acts. -
Intolerable Acts
A set of punitive laws created by the British to punish the American colonies for the Boston Tea Party. These acts included the Boston Port Act, which closed the port until the East India Trading Company was repaid, the Massachusetts Government Act, the Administration of Justice Act, and the Quartering Act. -
First Continental Congress
This was a meeting of the twelve colonies (Georgia did not attend). It was called in response to the Intolerable Acts. John Adams, Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, and George Washington were some of the major personalities in attendance. The Colonies decided they needed to act and petitioned the King to repeal the acts. The meeting took place in Philadelphia at Carpenters Hall. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
These were the first military conflicts of the Revolutionary War. The result of these battles was a significant British failure because few weapons were seized, and they actually contributed to the fights it intended to smother. The major leaders for the Americans was Captain John Parker, the British were led by Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith. Paul Revere alerted the Colonial militia of the approaching British forces. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates from the thirteen colonies in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This convention established that the Congress would take over war efforts in the Revolutionary War, and approved the Declaration of Causes which outlined the rationale for the war. The colonial leaders representing the colonies included John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin. -
Declaration of Independence
This was a statement written by the thirteen colonies under the Continental Congress that declared the United States, who were at war with Britain, regarded themselves as independent states. It was drafted by Thomas Jefferson, and the final draft was written and approved by the Congress. We celebrate this event on July 4th every year, on ‘Independence Day’. -
Articles of Confederation
This was an agreement among the first 13 states, and it served as the first Constitution. It established the 13 states as a confederation of sovereign states. The document was ratified on March 1st, 1781. Samuel Huntington led as the first President of the United States in Congress Assembled. -
Start of the Consitutional Convention
A meeting used to address the problems in the current United States of America, which were then being governed by the Articles of Confederation. These Articles gave Congress no power to regulate domestic affairs. This also addressed the need for a new government, and how it would be run.
