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Jun 1, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was sIgned by King John of England and gave rights to the elite in England. -
Mayflower Compact
Was signed by Puritans and non-speratist pilgrams at plymouth to set up order. -
Petition of Rights
King Charles I accepted and signed the document listing the Petitions presented by the Parliament (however he later ignored it anyway). The rights granted to the people were: no taxes would be levied without Parliament’s approval; one can only be imprisoned by the law of the land; soldiers were not allowed to stay in citizens' homes without payment; and martial law would not be asserted in a time of peace. -
English Bill of Rights
Signed by King William III and Queen Mary II, and gave rights to protestants. -
Albany plan of Union
Index of DocumentsThe idea to create a union of American provinces was suggested by Benjamin Franklin. He also published a woodcarving depicting America as a snake in order to persuade Americans to unite their government. -
King George III Takes Power
By taxing colonists to pay for the French and Indian war, along with issuing the Proclamation of 1763, King George angered the colonies. -
The French and Indian War
The French and Indian war led to tensions between the Colonists and the British even though it was a victory over the french and native american peoples for their side. One important battle was the Defeat of General Braddock in Virginia in 1755. The war led to taxes and acts the colonists felt unfair being imposed on the colonists causeing tensions between the crown and the american settlers. -
Stamp Act
http://www.revolutionary-war.net/stamp-act.htmlThe Stamp Act was a way to raise revenue after Britain’s debts due to the French Indian War. This act taxed papers such as legal documents, permits, commercial contracts, newspapers, wills, pamphlets, and playing cards in the American colonies. Colonial leaders and people in general did not like the act. In England, the new taxation caused some riots. In America, the Stamp Act led to the cry, "No taxation without representation." Because of this, the act was repealed before a year had passed. -
Boston Massacre
Upset over tax raises and increased British control, a group of colonists gathered to throw snowballs at a group of British soldiers and were then shot at. In the end five colonists were shot and killed by British soldiers. -
Boston Tea Party
video
The "Son's of Liberty" dumped a shipment of tea from the East India company into the harbor refusing to pay taxes on it. In response, parliament passed four acts to punish them, closed Boston port, reduced Massachusetts' powers of self-government, provided for quartering troops in the colonies, and permitted royal officers accused of crimes to be tried in England. -
Intolerable Acts
http://totallyhistory.com/intolerable-acts/ The main reason for passing the Intolerable Acts was because of the Boston Tea Party and the increasing resistance of American colonies to the parliament. The provisions were a series of Acts meant to punish the colonies by invading their rights and by making an example out of Boston to subdue further colonial rebellion. The provisions included the Boston Port act, Massachusetts Government Act, Administration of Justice Act, Quartering Act, and Quebec Act. -
First Continental Congress
Attended by 56 delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies, georga being the only colony not represented, the first continental congress was held in the Pennsylvania State House in Philidelphia. They set up boycots on British goods and formed comittees to enforce them. -
Lexington and Concord
Lexington and Concord were battles fought as a result of British General Thomas Gage’s secret plan to use the British soldiers quartered in Boston to capture colonial leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock in Lexington and destroy ammunition in Concord. Paul Reverse successfully spread word that British soldiers were coming. Even though the battle took a heavy toll on both sides, it shamed Gage and Britain andcolonists it considered a major military victory and it led to the American Revolution. -
Second Continental Congress
The delegates of all 13 colonies met at the State House in Philadelphia. This included John Hancock from Massachusetts, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington of Virginia, and Benjamin Franklin from Pennsylvania. Since the meeting occurred close after the Battle of Lexington and Concord, a continental army was formed, and George Washington named as Commander in Chief over the whole army. They also constructed a group to head up foreign relations and decided to let anyone sign up to be a soldier. -
Declaration of Independence
Congress appointed a committee of five to draft the colonies' Declaration of Independence from British rule. With Thomas Jefferson as its main author, the document listed the anger, betrayal, and grief that the colonists felt against the King of England and Britain. The document stated that the colonies no longer considered themselves under British rule and was approved and officially adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation established a federal or central government for America to replace the previous British control of national issues such as commerce, foreign policy and defense. John Hanson would be the first president under the articles. -
Start of Constitutional Convention
It was called to discuss the problems with the Articles of Confederation or current form of government. During this meeting, delegates from all over the colonies attended. The constitution was approved at the convention and George Washington presided over the Convention.
