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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
Magna CartaSigned by King John of Enlgand the Magna Carta gave citizens of England religious freedom, and the right for free citizens to own and inherit property, and widows were allowed to own land without remarrying. It also abolished bribery and misconduct. -
Mayflower Compact
Prevented dissent among Puritains and non separatist Pilgrims -
Petition of Rights
This was a document made by the people brought before King Charles I who signed it in the beginning of his reign in 1628. The petition stated that no man should be forced to pay taxes unless in accordance with parliament. Also no man should be imprisoned contrary to the laws of the land, and commissions to punish soldiers and sailors by martial law were to be abolished. -
English Bill of Rights
English Bill of RightsKing and Queen William and Mary of Orange accepted English Bill of Rights. It allowed Englishmen to have political rights. Monarchs could not establish their own court or act as judges. -
French and Indian War
This war lasted nine years. The conflict was between France and Britain who were fighting over control of the North American Colonies. Native Americans allied with France and the colonists allied with Great Britain against their common enemy. One major battle occured in western Pennsylvania where the British were defeated by Native American, French and Canadian forces at Ft. Duquesne. Another major battle took place at Ft. Oswego where the French captured the fort. In the end the British won. -
Albany Plan of Union
Representatives from the seven British North American colonies suggested the Albany Plan of Union to put colonies under more centralized government. It was never carried out. The cartoon shows a snake cut up into pieces labeled with the colonies with the phrase "join or die" beneath it. -
King George III Takes Power
As a result of French/Indian war, King George decided to tighten grip on American colonies which pushed colonists to revolt. -
Stamp Act
A direct tax by the British Parliament on British America. This was a tax on stamped paper produced in London. Many colonists considered it a violation of their rights, they sent petitions and protested to no avail. The Stamp Act played a major role in jumpstarting the American Revolution of 1775. -
Boston Massacre
Boston Massacre VideoBritish soldiers fired upon innocent colonists protesting for their independence. The parliamentary legislation was being enforced which led the colonists to retaliate. -
Boston Tea Party
Organized by the political group "Sons of Liberty" in Boston Massachusetts. They refused to pay taxes on tea. A group of colonists boarded the ships and destroyed shipments of tea by throwing them overboard into the Boston Harbor. This event led to the Revoluntioary War. -
The Intolerable Acts
These were four acts acts enforced on the colonists by King George as form of punishment for the Boston Tea Party. The provisions were: Britain closed all of Bostons ports until the colonists paid for all of the tea that was lost, restricted colonists to have gov. meetings, British troops were allowed to house themselves in colonists homes, and British officials went to trail in Britain instead of the colonies. -
First Continental Congress
Some major personalities involved were Patrick Henry, George Washington and John Adams. Mechanisms throughout the colonies were established to enforce and regulate the resistance of Great Britain. This meeting lasted until Oct 26 1774 at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia. -
Lexington and Concord
First battle that kicked off the revolutionary war. Paul Revere alerted the militia which helped them immobilize the British.Colonel Smith, Major Pitcairne and Lord Percy commanded the British Troops. Paul Revere and William Dawes rode to warn the villages on the route to Concord and the Congress. Militia were commanded by Barrett, Buttrick, Robinson and many others. -
Second Contintental Congress
Took place at the state house in Philadelphia Pa. At this meeting, they decided to completely break away from Britain and put all colonies in a state of defense. Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, and John Hancock lead this meeting -
Declaration of Independence
Drafted by Thomas Jefferson in June of 1776, the Declaration of Independece declared separation from Great Britain and is one of the most famous documents in American History -
Articles of Confederation
Agreement between the 13 states that declared the U.S. as a confederation of sovereign states. George Washington was the fist president under the articles in1787. -
Start of Constitutional Convention
Took place in Philadelphia Pa to address problems in America. Many constitutional leaders were there including George Washington who presided over the Convention.
