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Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta
King John faced a possible rebelion by the country's powerful barons. King John agreed and signed to liberties of the Magna Carta which placed all soverigns within a rule of law. The Magna Carta limited powers of the King by law and protected the people's privaledges, freedom of the english church, the right to due process, and maintain the "ancient liberties" of the city of London. The picture is a picture of the Magna Carta signed by King John. -
Sep 20, 1215
Magna Carta (Website Link)
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Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was written by separists fleeing from religious persecution by King James of Great Britian. This was the first governing document in a plymouth colony. It was signed so settlers consented to follow the compact's rules and regulatons for the sake of survival. This is an image of a copy of the Mayflower Compact. -
English Bill of Rights
The english bill of rights was signed by William and Mary of Englnad. The bill of rights allowed people to have freedom to petition, freedom of speech, freedom to have arms, and allow the people free to protest elections and monarchs without fear of retribution. The bill of rights layed down limits on the powers of the crown and sets out the rights of parliament. This is an image of William and Mary of England. The monarchs who signed the English Bill of Rights. -
Albany Plan of Union
Representatives from 7 of the British North American colonies adopted the Albany plan of Union. Although it was never carried out the plan was to protect colonies from invasion. It attempted to establish the division between the executive and legislative branches of government, while establishing a common governmental authority to deal with external relations. The cartoon "Join or Die" was a big propoganda poster created by Ben Franklin during this era to try to gain support. "Join or Die" -
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was between Great Britain and France where the British were victorious. The "Battle of Jumanville Glen", "Battle of Carillon", and the "Battle of Signal Hill" were various battles that had changed the course of the war for both sides. Once Britain had won, tensions increased between the US and Britain since the US lost a huge ally in our home land. The rising tensions would later lead to the Revolutionary War. A battle field fought between Britain and France -
French and Indian War (Website Link)
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King George III takes power
Under King George's rein he defeated the french in the French and Indian war. He became the dominant European power in North American and India. HE decided the colonies should pay for part of the war. He also wanted the colonies to pay for British soldiers to stay in North Ammerica to protext them. His new rules angered the colonists. The colonists hadmany restrictions put on them including not being aloud to make settlements on or beyond the Appalachian Mountains. Portrait of King George III -
Stamp Act
Great Britain placed high exporting taxes toward the colonies. The taxed items were tea, clothes, alcohol, and many more. In response to the taxes, the 13 colonies decided at the First Contiental Congress to dump British tea off their boats. This is 1 out of the many reasons that led up to the Revolutionary War. -
Boston Massacre
Colonists objected to the Townshed acts were a violation of the natural charter. They also began boycotting the merchants improrting the affected goods. A mob formed around a british sentry who was subjected to verbal abuse and harassment. He was supported by 8 british soldiers who were also subjected to verbal threats and thrown objects. The soldiers fired into the crown without orders killing 5 civilian men and injuring 6 more. This is an image of the soldiers firing on the protesting crowd. -
Boston Tea Party
After officials in Boston refused to return 3 shiploads of taxed tea to Britain, a group of colonists boarded the ships and destroyed the tea by throwing it into the Boston Harbor, all organized by the Sons of Loberty. Parliament responded in 1774 with the Coercive Acts or Intolerable Acts which ended local self-government in Massachusetts and closed Boston's Commerce. This is an image of the colonists desposing of the tea. -
Boston Tea Party (Video Link)
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Intolerable Acts
As response to the Boston Tea Party, Great Britain stripped the Colonists of their self-government and historic rights over the Colonies. This was one of the last events right before war broke out between the Colonies and Great Britain. -
First Continental Congress
12 out of the 13 Colonies (Georgia voted not to send Reps.) sent 56 representives to meet in Philadelpha. Some of these representives were John Adams, Patrick Henry, Joseph Galloway, and Joseph Galloway. Henry argued that the Colonies needed independent from the Great Britain. While Galloway wanted to work with the British rule and called upon a "Plan of Union". Henry obviously won the arguement. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was held again in Philidelphia and was held for a greater purpose than the last one. The Declaration of Independence was written and signed at this convention. Some of the 56 original representitives were in attendance as well as some new reps. such as Benjamin Franklin and John Handcock -
Lexington & Concord
The Revolutionary War was well on its way after April 19th, 1775 when the first shots were fired at the Battle of Lexington. The US came ahead at the end of the day with the leadership of James Barrett, John Parker, and John Buttrick. Great Britain had Fancis Smith, John Pitcaim, and Hugh Percy for leadership againest the colonists. -
Declaration Of Independece
One of the US's most valuable documents, The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson at the Second Continental Congress. The Document states that the 13 Colonies are independent of Great Britain and are United as one confederation. -
Treaty of Paris
The treaty ended the revolutionary war and finally recognized the United States as an independant country. The US was represented by John Adams, Ben Franklin, and John Jay. The treaty also aloud US civilians to settle in the teritorry between the Alleghany Mountains and Mississippi River on the west. The Delaration of Independence was finally recognized for the first time by the British. The picture is of the men who signed the Treat of Paris.
