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Period: Sep 18, 1200 to
The Road to the Constitution
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Jun 17, 1215
Magna Carta
The document was signed by King John in a field in Runnymede.The document was signed to protect the rights of English barons against the King, in an attempt to avoid civil war. The Magna Carta helped later during the American Revolution. Citizens used it as a way to lawfully rebel. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower compact was created by the puritain separatist William Bradford while on board the Mayflower ship on his way to America. The Mayflower Compact was signed for the purpose of creating a government that everyone would accept when the boat landed. This was the first step to modern American government (democracy), and some say this was
one of the bases or influences for the US Constitution. http://www.history.com/topics/mayflower-compact/videos#deconstructing-history-mayflower -
Petition of Rights
The importance of this document was to set the rights and liberties of the subject that the King can not infring on. The rights granted to the subjects include: One can not be imprisoned without a reason, restictions and use of Martial Law, and restrictions on non-Parliment taxation. This document was produced by the English Parliment and Charles I signed it. -
English Bill of Rights
After civil wars had plauged England for years, and citizens began to feel unsafe, the British Parliament signed the English Bill of Rights. This document protected citizens basic liberties and rights. Some of those rights included the right to petition and a guarenteed protection against cruel and unusual punishment. The English Bill of Rights influenced the idea for the first 10 ammendments of the US Constitution, also known as the Bill of Rights. -
Albany Plan of Union
Benjamin Franklin gave the suggestion for this plan. He drafted it for the union in hope that the colonies could create a better defense and governance. However, this did not happen because it was voted down everywhere it was presented. Benjamin Franklin then created the famous "Join or Die" cartoon, known as the nations first and most famous political cartoon. -
French and Indian War
Also known as the 7 years war, the French and Indian war lasted from 1756-1763. This war was fought based off of territorial conflict Between the French and the British in the colonies. Some significant battles include Ft. Dusquene, Ft. Oswego, and Battle of Quebec. Ultimately, the French and the British decided on territory divisions at a peace conference. This war led the colonists to feel the ultimate control of the British. -
King George iii Takes Power
George became king at the age of 22 after his grandfather's death. He did not have a very good relationship between the British and the colonies. It started when he backed Lord North's Prime Minister act that taxed tea in the colonies. As a result, the colonists rebelled and later created the Declaration of Independence, ending George iii's right to rule. -
Stamp Act
This was an internal tax directed at the Colonists in America by the British. The British were in debt from the Seven Year's War and saw the Colonies as a way out of debt. Items that were tax include: all paper documents, such as books, newspaper, playing cards, and official documents. Also stamps were taxed. The Colonial leaders thought this was unconstitutional and they used mob violence to try and intimidate the tax collectors. They also boycitted British goods. -
Boston Massacre
American colonists gathered and began taunting the British soldiers guarding the Customs House in Boston. They were protesting the occupation of their city by British troops. The colonists taunted them by throwing snowballs and other objects at the British. The British opened fire on the crowd, killing five and injuring three. This was a result of the Townshend Acts, in which British troops were billeted in Boston in october 1768 for their efforts to enforce this. -
Boston Tea Party
After the Tea Act was signed by King George, Many of the Colonial ports refused shipments of tea. In Boston, the Patriot political party (The Sons of Liberty) decided to board the ship that transported the tea, and throw it all into the harbour. Upon hearing about this protest, the British decided to punish the people of the colonies by closing the port of Boston, annulling self-government within Massachusetts, and expanding the Quartering act. This raid was one of the first -
Boston Tea Party 2
acts of rebellion from the colonists that eventually led to the Revolutionary War. -
Intolerable Acts part 2
The Quartering Act required colonists to house British Troops. The Administation of Justice Act made British officials immune to criminal prosecution in Massachusetts. The last act was the Quebec Act. Together all these Acts made up the Intolerable Acts. -
Intolerable Acts part 1
The Intolerable Acts, also known as the Coercive Acts, were 5 acts by the British Govenment.The goal was to restore order in Massachussetts and to punish the Tea Party. These acts were passed because the British were upset about the Boston Tea Party and the acts of destruction to the British property by the American Colonists. The Boston Port Act closed the port until damages from the Boston Tea Party were paid. The Massachussetts Government Act restricted Massachussetts councils. -
First Continental Congress
On this day, representatitives from all colonies except Georgia met in Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia to draft a declaration of rights. They wanted to discuss a united resistance to the British Intolerable Acts. -
Lexington and Concord 2
British were coming to invade. -
Lexington and Concord
The battles that took place here were the start of the American Revolution. The conflict was building between colonies and the British. After the fighting began, the British retreated. In the battle, 250 redcoats were killed or wounded, and 90 colonists were killed or wounded. This proved that the colonists could stand up to one of the most powerful armies. The major generals were Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Samuel Prescott. Paul Revere famously alerted residents of the event that the -
Second Continental Congress
The second continental congress met at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia. This meeting led to the creation of the Articles of Confederation, the document that helped govern America until 1789. Some noteable attendees included Samuel Adams, John Adams, John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington. This led to the beginnings of American Government as we know it. The Articles were a prelude to the Constitution that we know today. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were enacted in 1781 and lasted until 1789. This document was a prelude to the US Constitution. John Hanson was (arguably) the first president under the Articles of Confederation. This document influenced the Constitution and lead to modern american government. -
Treaty of Paris
The American Revolution finally ened when representatives from the United States, Great Britain, Spain, and France signed this. The Treaty of Paris finnally recongnized the independence of the Colonies from Britain. Benjamin Frankilin and John Jay represented the United States. The new boundaries of the United States is from Florida to the Great Lakes and from the Atlantic to the Mississippi River. -
Start of the Constitutional Convention
Delegates in the Constitutional Convention began to assemble in Philadelphia. Participating states included Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina + Georgia. At the Annapolis convention, they discussed further provisions necessary to the constitution of Federal Government. The purpose of the Convention was to discuss the new American Government defined by the Articles of Confederation.
