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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
First drafted by the Archbishop of Canterbury to make peace between the unpopular King and a group of rebel barons, it promised the protection of church rights, protection for the barons from illegal imprisonment, access to swift justice, and limitations on feudal payments to the Crown, to be implemented through a council of 25 barons. Was signed in Windsor, Berkshire (In England). -
Jamestown Settled
The founding of Jamestown, America’s first permanent English colony, in Virginia in 1607. The government, language, customs, beliefs and aspirations of these early Virginians are all part of the United States’ heritage today. The colony was founded by the London Company, chartered by King James I. -
Mayflower Compact written
William Bradford wrote the Mayflower compact. The Mayflower Compact was the first agreement for self-government to be created and enforced in America. On September 16, 1620 the Mayflower, a British ship, with 102 passengers, who called themselves Pilgrims, aboard sailed from Plymouth, England. They were bound for the New World. -
Petition of Right
The Petition of Right, first initiated by Sir Edward Coke in 1628, was a statement of civil liberties sent by the English Parliament to Charles I stating that no taxes may be levied without consent of Parliament, no subject may be imprisoned without cause shown, no soldiers may be quartered upon the citizenry, and martial law may not be used in time of peace. -
English Bill of Rights
1689, It created separation of powers, limits the powers of the king and queen, enhances the democratic election and bolsters freedom of speech. This document was used in the creation of the American Bill of Rights. -
Albany Plan of Union
1754, The Albany Plan of Union was a plan to create a unified government for the Thirteen Colonies, suggested by Benjamin Franklin, at the Albany Congress on July 10, 1754 in Albany, New York. -
Stamp Act
1765, was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain that imposed a direct tax on the colonies of British America and required that many printed materials in the colonies be produced on stamped paper produced in London, carrying an embossed revenue stamp. -
Boston Massacre
Five colonists were killed by British soldiers due to the buildup of tension between the American colonies heckling and antagonizing the soldiers and the Royal troops who were imposing a heavy tax by the Township Act. Paul Revere popularized the event by renaming it as a massacre a few years later. -
Boston Tea Party
- The Boston Tea Party was a political protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston, on December 16, 1773. The demonstrators, some disguised as Native Americans, in defiance of the Tea Act of May 10, 1773, destroyed an entire shipment of tea sent by the East India Company. They boarded the ships and threw the chests of tea into Boston Harbor.
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Intolerable Acts
1774, The Intolerable Acts were the American Patriots' term for a series of punitive laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 after the Boston Tea Party. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates from twelve of the Thirteen Colonies that met on September 5 to October 26, 1774, at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to discuss their response to the British ‘Intolerable Acts’ and establish independence from Britain. They agreed to boycott British goods and passed resolutions asserting colonial rights. -
American Revolution begins
British troops march into Lexington to find 77 armed minutemen under Captain John Parker waiting for the British on common towns grass. The shot was fired and the revolution began. The British left and were commanded to come back to Boston. By the time the British made it to Boston they had lost nearly 300 soldiers due to the patriots Indian- style types of attacks along their journey. These were the first battles of the American revolution and led to the independent United States of America. -
Second Continental Congress
On May 10, 1775, the members of the Second Continental Congress met at the State House in Philadelphia. There were several new delegates including John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin. The Second Continental Congress established the militia as the Continental Army to represent the thirteen states. They also elected George Washington as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. -
Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson, declared their freedom as a legitimate nation. Created a revolutionary movement in world history, took place in Philadelphia. -
Articles of Confederation
1781, The first constitution between all thirteen colonies. Drafted and signed by the Second Continental Congress. . The articles provided a system for the thirteen colonies to be able to conduct trade with Europe, control the American Revolutionary War, and deal with territorial disputes. Superseded by a new constitution in 1789 (U.S. Constitution) -
Shay's Rebellion
A militia that defeated the federal Springfield Armory by the main Shay site. Seen as one of the major factors that led to writing the constitution. Took place in Massachusetts. -
Philadelphia Convention
1787, This was a convention held in order to discuss amendments that were to be made to the Articles of Confederation. This meeting took place in Philadelphia. -
Connecticut Compromise
May 29, 1797. It was proposed by two representatives from the state of Connecticut, Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth. The Connecticut Compromise paved the way for the Constitution to be formed. It also set an important precedent of compromise in American political culture. The agreement was reached during the constitutional convention. It proposed a bicameral legislature, resulting in the current US senate and house of representatives. It took place in Connecticut.
