Timeline

  • Period: Jan 1, 1200 to

    Enlightenment

  • Magna Carta
    Jun 15, 1215

    Magna Carta

    It established for the first time the principle that everybody, including the king, was subject to the law.
  • Petition of Right

    Petition of Right

    The Petition of Right was a statement of civil liberties sent by the English Parliament to Charles I.
  • English Bill of Rights

    English Bill of Rights

    This was an act of Parliament that guaranteed certain rights to the citizens of England from the power of the crown.
  • Albany Plan of Union

    Albany Plan of Union

    This was a proposal to create a unified government for the Thirteen Colonies.
  • Boston Massacre

    Boston Massacre

    It was a street fight between a "patriot" mob, throwing snowballs, stones, sticks, and a squad of British soldiers.
  • Boston Tea Party

    Boston Tea Party

    The Boston Tea Party was a political protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston.
  • First Continental Congress

    First Continental Congress

    This was a meeting of delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies that met at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia.
  • Second Continental Congress

    Second Continental Congress

    It managed the colonial war effort, and it moved incrementally towards independence, adopting the United States Declaration of Independence.
  • Declaration of Independence

    Declaration of Independence

    This was how the thirteen colonies got rid of their political connection to Great Britain.
  • Articles of Confederation

    Articles of Confederation

    The Articles of Confederation, which were the first constitution of the US, were adopted by the Continental Congress in 1777, but weren't ratified by all 13 states until 1781.
  • Shay's Rebellion

    Shay's Rebellion

    Lasting until 1787, this was an armed uprising that took place in Massachusetts, which some historians say "altered the course of US history."
  • Philadelphia Convention

    Philadelphia Convention

    Delegates gathered to discuss possible improvements to the Articles of Confederation.
  • Virginia Plan

    Virginia Plan

    The Virginia Plan proposed a strong central government composed of three branches, judicial, executive, and legislative.
  • New Jersey Plan

    New Jersey Plan

    The New Jersey Plan was a proposal for the structure of the United States Government presented by William Paterson at the Constitutional Convention.