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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
A document (a)signed between the feudal barons and King Kohn of England at Runnymede near Windsor Castle.The document was a series of written promises between the king and his subjects that he would act according to the customs of feudal law. Some of the rights included were; (b) The right of the church to be free from governmental interference, the rights of all citizens to own and inherit property and be protected from excess taxes. Also contained provisions forbidding bribery and misconduct. -
Mayflower Compact
This was signed by 41 English colonists on the Mayflower, and was the first written framework of government established in what is now the United States. The document (a) created a "Civil Body Politic" to enact "just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Consitutions, and Offices." It was drafted to prvent dissent amongst Puritans and non-separatist Pilgrims who had landed at Plymouth. Every adult male had to sign the agreement before going ashore. -
Petition of Rights
Sir Edward Coke sent for a petition of rights to King Charles I, because people were being punished and killed for not following taxes, laws, etc. that were made without being passed in parliment. King Charles I signed this. The rights given to the people were as follows, 1.) No imprisonment without a shown cause, 2.) No taxes without given without parliment consent 3.) Soldiers cannot be put in private houses 4.) Martial law cannot be used in a time of peace... -
English Bill of Rights
A restatement of the Delcaration of Rights presented by the COnvention Parliament, (a) signed by William III and Mary II, inviting them to become joint sovereigns of England. It lays down limits on the powers of soverign and sets out rights of Parliament. Some of the many rights given include; (b) Freedom from royal interference with the law, Freedom to petition the monarch, Freedom of Speech, Freedom for Protestants to bear arms, and Freedom from standing army during times of peace. -
French and Indian War
The last and more important of a series of colonial conflicts between (a) British and American colonists on one side, and French and Native American allies on the other. Some major battles included (b) Fort Necessity, Lake George, Oswego, Ticonderoga, Niagra, Quebec, and Montreal with (c) The British eventually coming out on top. (d) The war gave colonists the first true breath of freedom and the desire to continue to live free or die. -
Albany Plan of Union
A plan to place the British North American colonies under a more centralized government. The plan was suggested by (a) Benjamin Franklin but (b) did not ever come into effect. It was the first important plan to conceive the colonies as a collective whole united under one government. (c) Popular cartoons appeared such as the "Join or Die" to promote support for the Plan. -
King George III Takes Power
George III was one of the longest reighning British Monarchs and oversaw the conquest of an empire int he Seven Years' War and the loss of American Colonies in the war of Independence. (a) He decided that he needed a standing Army in American which they believed was ridiculous after 150 years of self governance. The French and Indian War was America's "passport" to the freedom of a vast continent and the power to decide what to do with it. it acted as a catalyst for the goal of Independence. -
Stamp Act
The money from this was to be used to pay for protecting the American frontier near the Appalachian Mountains. Every piece of printed paper was taxed due to the Stamp Act. As a result of this tax many people reacted by boycotting british goods, riots, and attacks on tax collectors. The people did not take it well at all. -
Boston Massacre
This was a street fight between a "patriot" mob and a squad of British Soldiers. (a) 3 colonists were killed on the spot while 8 others were wounded, 2 of which died later. (b) This tragedy was mainly caused by the enforcement of the Townshend Acts of 1767 which imposed more taxes on common products that all colonists required. The Boston Massacre was a signal event leading to the Revolutionary War. http://www.history.com/topics/boston-massacre/videos#boston-massacre -
Boston Tea Party
Parliament's effort to rescue the financially weakened East India Company through the (b) Tea Act led to the Boston Tea Party. Patriot groups such as (a) The Sons of Liberty refused to accept the tea shipments but many merchants refused to concede. Tensions mounted as patriot groups led by Samuel Adams tried to persuade the governor to send the tea back. The Coercive Acts of 1774 were intended to punish the colony for its resistance. -
Intolerable Acts
These were a series of punative laws punishing Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party. These laws stripped the rights of self-government from massachusetts. The goal of this was to make the people pay for what they had done. Provisions: Boston Port Act (closed ports), Massachusetts Government Act (no town meeting without permission), Administration of Government Act, Quartering Act (forced to allow British soldiers to stay in homes), Quebec Act (Extended Boundaries of Canada) -
First Continental Congress
A meeting which took place at (c) Cartpenter's Hall in Philadelphia which involved major personalities suhc as (a) John Adams, Sam Adams, George Washington, Patrick Henry, and Richard Henry Lee. They presented they were united in a determination to show a combined authority to Great Britain, but their aims were not uniform at all. In the end (b) the Declaration and Resolves established The Course of the Congress as a statement of principles common to all colonies. -
Lexington and Concord
British troops were sent to capture Samuel Adams, and John Hancock in Concord. The men were informed in advance, and Paul Revere was one of the men to tell them. The search for the men turned into a large battle. The story spread south, and royal authority rapidly disappeared. Also , provincial congresses were formed in all colonies where they did not already exist. Colonel Smith, Major Pitcairne, and lord Percy commanded the British, and militia was commanded by Barrett, and many others -
Second Continental Congerss
The second continental congress formed the armies for the Revolutionary war. The men improved the militias of the colonies, and officially decided to break away from Great Britain. This took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and during the meetings they decided to make the militia the continental army to the 13 colonies. The men also elected George Washington to be the leader of The colonies. Some of the leaders present were John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and many others. -
Declaration of Independence
This document is made up solely of the fundemental ideas that form the American Nation. This work announced to the world that the United States of America formed up of the origional 13 colonies would be completly independent from Great Britain. http://www.history.com/topics/declaration-of-independence -
Articles of Confederation
This created a loose confederation of sovereign states, with a weak central government. Under this most of the power was held by the states. The first president under this was John Hanson, they called for a president of their own, so in this case George Washington could not be considered the first president. http://www.history.com/topics/articles-of-confederation -
Start of the Consitutional Convention
The main goal of this was to edit the Articles of Confederation, but the leaders decided to create a new government rather than fix the old. As a result of this, the men created the United States Constitution, the Senate, and other key parts of the government.
