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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was the first document forced on the King of England in an attempt to limit his powers under law. King John was forced into signing it with the feual barons. It was signed in Medieval England. This people gave access to court, and no man would be arrested unfairly. There would be no unfair taxation. The picture shown is the actual document. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was the first government document of the Plmouth colony. It was written by Separatists fleeing religious persecution. The purpose was to establish a government based upon a majoritarian model. The pitcure shown is the actual petition with signatures. -
Petition of Rights
The Petition of Right is a major English constitutional document that set out specific liberties the King cannot infringe upon. This document provided rights to restricting non-Parliamentary taxation, forced billeting of soldiers, imprisonment without cause, and also restricting the use of martial law. It was signed by King Charles I and Parliament. -
English Bill of Rights
This website in this link shows information about the reign of William and Mary, and causes for the English Bill of RightsThe English Bill of Rights was an act passed by Parliament to limit the power of the king and queen of England and invite William and Mary in joint sovereignty. William and Mary were involved in the signing, as well as Parliament. It gave Parliament freedom of speech, the right to regular elections, and the right to petition, and allowed Protestants to have arms. -
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War waas was fought between the colonies of British America and New France who were supported by the local Native Americans. The Battle of Quebec, Battle of Fort Necessity, and the Battle of River Monongahela were all key battles. The British ultimately were victorious in this conflict. This created a closer connection between the colonies and Britain, because they felt the need to protect us. -
Albany Plan of Union
The Albany Plan of Union was a proposal to create a unified government for the Thirteen Colonies. Ben Franklin suggested this idea. This plan eventually failed, however. The popular politial cartoon "Join, or Die", created by Ben Franklin, was associated with the meeting. This picture shown is a copy of Franklin's political cartoon. -
King George III Takes Power
King George III reigned over Great Britain and Ireland indivudually and then when they were later united. After the French and Indian War, Britain became the dominant European power in North America because of him. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act imposed a direct tax by the British Parliament on the colonies of British America. Items such as legal documents, licenses, commercial contracts, newspapers, pamphlets, and playing cards were taxed. Colonial leaders immediately resisted to this act through debates, written documents mob actions such as tarring tax collectors. The pictures shows the act of feathering a tax collector. -
Boston Massacre
This link has much information about the Boston Massacre and how it affected the mood in America.Also known as the Incident on King Street, this was an event where British Army soldiers attacked unarmed civilians in the city streets. Five colonists were killed. The soldiers were protecting Parliament legislation, which led to the tragedy. -
Boston Tea Party
This link plays a video that describes the reasons and outcome of this event.The Boston Tea Party was a political protest in Boston where huge amounts of British tea was dumped into the harbour. The Sons of Liberty organized the event. The British Parliament responded by establishing the Coercive and Intolerable Acts, which ended self-government in Massachusetts. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were a series of harsh laws passed by the British Parliament, stripping rights from Massachusetts. The Boston Tea Party was a direct cause of these acts being passed. Some provisions were the closure of all Boston's ports, restrictions of town meetings, and housing of British troops at any time in colonist homes. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from twelve colonies that met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, early in the American Revolution. Some of the major personalities involved were George Washington, Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Edmund Pendleton, Colo. Benjamin Harrison, Richard Bland, and at the head of them Peyton Randolph. A letter listing grievences and a boycott on British items were established at the meeting. The meeting took place at Carpenter's Hall in Philly. -
Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. This conflict started the entire shooting war and gave the patriots momentum. Colonel Smith, Major Pitcairne and Lord Percy commanded the British Troops. American militia were commanded by Barrett, Buttrick, Robinson and many others. Paul Revere rode to warn the villages on the route to Concord and the Congress. The picture shows American fighters sniping British soldiers at range. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the thirteen colonies that started meeting in the summer after warfare in the American Revolutionary War had begun. This took place in Philadelphia. Ideas of forming a Continental Army, printing their own money, and the Olive Branch Petition came about. Benjamin Franklin and John Hancock were new arrivals at this meeting. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is a statement adopted by the Continental Congress which announced that the 13 American colonies regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. The picture shown is an actual photo of this document. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was an agreement among the 13 founding states that established the America as a confederation of sovereign states and served as its first constitution. John Hanson would be the first president under the articles. -
The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain on one side and the United States of America and its allies on the other. Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Henry Laurens, and John Adams represented the United States. Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Phillipines became new boundaries of the U.S. The British finally recognized the Declaration of Independence. The picture shows the agreements of the Treaty of Paris between the representatives. -
Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention took place to address problems in governing the newly free United States. All thirteen states were supposed to send delegates; however, only five actually showed up, so all talk was deemed ineffective. The original purpose was just to revise the Articles of Confederation.
