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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta is a document that reduced the amount of power King John of England held. This document allowed the formation of a powerful parliament. The Magna Carta became the basis for English citizen's rights. Collection of 37 English laws. Written by Archbishop Stephen Langton and the Barons of England. -
Period: Jun 15, 1215 to
The Development of the U.S. Constitution
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Jan 10, 1295
Parliament Begins
English parliament set up in 1295 by Edward I, he needed the support of the whole country against his opponents: Wales, France, and Scotland. The first to include representatives from outside the clergy and aristocracy. His goal was to raise money for military purposes, -
House of Burgesses
Established by the Virgina Company, the House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America. It is is Jamestown, Virgina and was empowered to enact legislation for the colony, but its actions were subject to veto by the governor, council, and ultimately by the directors in London. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was signed on board the Mayflower by 41 of the ship's 101 passengers and was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. It was written by the colonists to proclaim allegiance to the king. -
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution was the events of 1688–89 that resulted in the deposition of James II and the accession of William III and Mary II to the English throne. It established the supremacy of parliament over the British monarchy. -
English Bill of Rights
Document based off of John Locke's Written to further limit the powers of the monarch. Declared the rights and liberties of the subject and the settling of the succession of the crown. -
Common Law
Law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action. Legal system that gives great precedential weight to common law, on the principle that it is unfair to treat similar facts differently on different occasions. -
Stamp Act
Direct tax imposed by the British Parliament that required printed materials (legal documents, magazines, newspapers, etc.) in the colonies be produced on stamped paper produced in London. -
Intolerable Acts
Series of British measures passed in 1774 and designed to punish the Massachusetts colonists for the Boston Tea Party. For example, one of the laws closed the port of Boston until the colonists paid for the tea that they had destroyed. -
First Continental Congress
Convention of delegates from twelve British North American colonies that met at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, early in the American Revolution. -
Second Continental Congress
Convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies coordinating government for the colonies and states in providing overall di rection for the patriot war effort. -
Articles of Confederation
An agreement among the 13 founding states that legally established the United States of America as a confederation of sovereign states and served as its first constitution. -
Shays' Rebellion
An armed uprising in central and western Massachusetts (mainly Springfield) from 1786 to 1787. The rebellion is named after Daniel Shays, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War. -
Constitutional Convention
Addressed problems in governing the United States of America, which had been operating under the Articles of Confederation following independence from Great Britain. -
Great Compromise
Agreement that large and small states reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that in part defined the legislative structure and representation that each state would have under the United States Constitution. -
Federalist Papers
A series of 85 articles or essays promoting the ratification of the United States Constitution -
Constitution Ratified by 2/3 of The States
The constitution was ratified by 9 of the 13 states (fulfilled the Parliament rule). -
Bill of Rights
defined citizens' rights in relation to the newly established government under the Constitution, 10 new amendments were ratified and became the Bill of Rights.
