-
Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta is a charter authored by a group of Barons of King John of England. The charter was authored because of numerous increases in taxes, and a number of unproductive wars resulting in the loss of some of the barons's posessions. This was one of the earliest documents in which a lower class of citizens was able to succesfully petition the ruling class for rights. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Carta
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/magna_carta/ -
Period: to
The Creation of the Thirteen Colonies
The relationship between Great Britian and the American colonies was relatively peaceful until the French and Indian War of 1754-1763 significantly weakened it. I was unable to find much specific information on pre-revolutionary America. -
Early American Settlers
The first English settlers of America made their journey for a variety of reasons. In the case of Jamestown (the colony esatblished on the date given), a charter was granted by King James I to the Virginia company to establish a colony. They also planned to hunt for gold and a water route to the Orient. However, other colonists had other motives, such as escaping religious persecution (and bringing the "heathens" to Christ once they arrived). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamestown_Settlement -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. It was, in essence, an agreement among the settlers to abide by the rules of the Compact for each others safety and security. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayflower_Compact
http://www.allabouthistory.org/mayflower-compact.htm -
Petition of Right
The Petition of Right is a famous document in British history, limiting the power of the king and influencing future documents such as the US Consitution. It could have been inspirational because it was a demonstration that citizens could take action against an unfair government system. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petition_of_Right
http://www.constitution.org/eng/petright.htm -
English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights set limits for the monarch, as well as ensuring freedom of speech in Parliament and elections within Parliament. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_of_Rights_1689
http://billofrightsinstitute.org/resources/educator-resources/americapedia/americapedia-documents/english-bill-of-rights/ -
Albany Plan of Union
The Albany Plan of Union was a propsal submitted by Benjamin Franklin, attempting to form all of the colonies under one central government. It was rejected because the American colonists were suspicious of any central taxing authority, and the British government disliked the idea of allowing more power to be excercised by the colonists. http://www.constitution.org/bcp/albany.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albany_Plan -
American Revolution
The American Revolution began in approximately the year 1763, as the French-Indian War ended. Once immediate threats to the empire were eliminated, Great Britian began taxing the American colonies heavier, beginning with the Stamp Act of 1765. http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/features/americanrevolution/timeline.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolution -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was an incident in which several British soldiers shot into a crowd of civilians, killing 5 and wounding 6. The soldiers were in Boston to support British officials that were enforcing an unpopular new British policy. The Boston Massacre increased tensions between the British and the colonists, and can be viewed as foreshadowing the Revolutionary War. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Massacre
http://www.bostonmassacre.net/ -
First Continental Congress
The First Contintental Congress was a meeting of delegates early during the American Revolution. It was called in response to the passage of the "Intolerable Acts" by British parliament. The convention was held to debate the colonists' options, such as a boycott of British trade or a petition to King George III. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Continental_Congress
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/congress.htm -
Second Contintenal Congress
The Second Continental Congress was created to serve as the de facto government during war time. It managed and directed both war strategy and took steps towards independance. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Continental_Congress
http://www.ushistory.org/us/10e.asp -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence listed the American colonists' greviances against the British crown, and declared that the colonies were now free and independent states. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was effectively the first United States Constitution. It was formally ratified by all 13 colonies in 1781. While providing the government some legitamacy to direct the war effort and manage foreign relations, the relatively weak government created by the Articles was ineffective, and it was replaced by the US Constitution in 1789. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Articles_of_Confederation
http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/articles.html -
Mount Vernon 1785
The Mount Vernon Conference of 1785 was a conference between delegates of Maryland and Virginia, dealing with commercial issues such as fishing and navigation on their mutual water borders. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Vernon_Conference
http://www.mountvernon.org/educational-resources/encyclopedia/mount-vernon-conference -
Annapolis 1786
At the Annapolis meeting, 12 delegates from 5 states unanimously chose to hold a constitutional convention. This convention, held in 1787, produced the United States Constitution. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annapolis_Convention_(1786)
http://www.cusdi.org/annapolis.htm -
The 1787 Constitutional Convention
The atendees of the 1787 Constitutional Convention had many disagreements, such as how to elect a president, whether or not to divide executive power, and the abolition of the slave trade. The ultimate result of the Constitutional Convention was the U.S. Constitution. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_Convention_(United_States)
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/convention1787.html -
The Commerce & Slave Trade Compromise
The Commerce & Slave Trade Compromise protected the interests of slaveholders, forbidding Congress to take action on the slave trade for 20 years, as well as forbidding Congress to create export taxes. http://www.icsd.k12.ny.us/legacy/highschool/pjordan/ushonors/Regents%20Review/Review%20Lessons/Compromises.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_Convention_(United_States)#Slavery -
The New Jersey Plan
One of the most important features of the New Jersey plan was one-vote-per-state representation. This was because the less populous states were opposed to the higher-population states having more control over the government. The New Jersey Plan was opposed by several prominent policiticians, most notably James Madison, who instead promoted the Virginia Plan. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey_Plan
http://library.thinkquest.org/11572/creation/framing/va_nj_plans.html -
Connecticut Compromise
The Connecticut Compromise was an agreement reached by the states in 1787, compromising between the Virginia and New Jersey plans and laying the framework for the legislative and representative policies of the US Constitution. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut_Compromise
http://www.jud.ct.gov/lawlib/history/sherman.htm -
Ratification of the Constitution
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
