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Jul 15, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta limited the power of the king by disallowing him to be the final authority in legal matters; a trail by jury was required after the Magna Carta was signed. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower compact drew up the rules for the settlers in the colonists going to Plymouth. It was the first government of the new world, free of monarchy and run on the principle of government by consent of the governed. This was in important step in limiting government -
Petition of Right
The Petition of Right was a document that laid out some of the specific nonviolable rights that English citizens have. Some important statements include: taxes can only be levied by Parliament, not the crown, the king is subject to the same laws as everyone else, and citizens could not be forced to quarter soldiers. This limited the power of the government and gave some of it to the people. -
English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights gave the people the right to petition, the right to legal courts, and banned the following: cruel and unusual punishment, royal interference with court, and a standing army. This is an important document in government limitation because it gives inalienable rights to the people that the government can't take away. -
Albany Plan
The Albany plan proposed a union for the states. It was rejected by both the colonies and England. It was later the model for the Articles of Confederation. It was a landmark event as America progressed towards revolting. -
Stamp Act Congress
The Stamp Act Congress came about in response to the Stamp Act. The people in attendance were consertative in comparison to later coalitions of states. They focused primarily on reconciliation with England. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was a tax put, by the English government, on almost all printed materials in the colonies. It infuriated the colonists as they believed it was unjust and was one of the many factors that led to revolution. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Party was an attempt to rebel against the taxation of the British government on tea. The ship was not allowed to unload the cargo without paying the tax. The colonists boarded the ship and threw the tea into the sea rather than pay the tax or let it return to England. This event was one of the key events in the road to revolution. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were a punitive measure by the British government after the Boston Tea Party. They closed the port in Boston, forced the colonists to quarter troops, sent colonial officials back to England for trial, and disallowed the city of Boston to govern itself. This was infuriated the colonists and helped fuel the fury that lead to the Revolution. -
1st Continental Congress
The first continental Congress was one of the first coaltions between the states. Its purpose was to make clear the grievances of the colonies. Because the grievances were never remedied, it became a step to the revolt. -
Declaration of Rights and Grievances
The Declaration of Rights and Grievances said primarily the idea of no taxation without representation. It also said the colonists deserved the same rights as englishmen. Because the English government basically ignored this declaration, it became a step on the way to revolution. -
2nd Continental Congres
The 2nd continental congress established George Washington as Commander-in-Chief of the Army, and made more and more rebellious stances toward the British government eventually adopting the Declaration of Independence. This was a hallmark step in the road to revolution. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was the colonists statement that they were no longer part of Britain and instead their own entitity. This was the start of the Revolutionary War.
