Declaration independence

U.S. Government Timeline-JGB

  • Magna Carta Signed
    Jun 15, 1215

    Magna Carta Signed

    This landmark document laid the foundation for modern democracy by establishing the principle that everyone, including the king, is subject to the law. It influenced many constitutional documents, including the U.S. Constitution.
  • Declaration of Independence

    Declaration of Independence

    This pivotal document declared the thirteen American colonies' independence from British rule. It set forth the ideals of individual freedom and government by consent, influencing democratic movements worldwide.
  • U.S. Constitution Ratified

    U.S. Constitution Ratified

    The Constitution established America's national government and fundamental laws while guaranteeing certain basic rights. It remains the supreme law of the land and a cornerstone of American democracy.
  • Zimmerman Telegram

    Zimmerman Telegram

    In January 1917, British cryptographers deciphered a telegram from German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann to the German Minister to Mexico, Heinrich von Eckhardt, offering United States territory to Mexico in return for joining the German cause.
  • Neutrality Acts

    Neutrality Acts

    Between 1935 and 1937 Congress passed three "Neutrality Acts" that tried to keep the United States out of war, by making it illegal for Americans to sell or transport arms, or other war materials to belligerent nations.
  • Pearl Harbor

    Pearl Harbor

    On Dec. 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The assault killed or wounded more than 3,500 American troops and civilians; severely damaged the fleet; and shocked the nation.
  • Universal of Declaration of Human Rights

    Universal of Declaration of Human Rights

    The Declaration outlines 30 rights and freedoms that belong to all of us and that nobody can take away from us.
  • Brown v. Board of Education

    Brown v. Board of Education

    This landmark Supreme Court case ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, overturning the "separate but equal" doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson. This decision was a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement and had a lasting impact on U.S. law and society.
  • The Bill of Rights Adopted

    The Bill of Rights Adopted

    The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution were added to protect individual liberties and limit government power. This crucial development ensured fundamental rights for U.S. citizens.