Founding fathers signing us constitution america

Major Events from Early American Government

  • Jun 15, 1215

    Magna Carta

    Magna Carta
    The Magna Carta limited the powers of King John and he was forced to sign it.
  • Jamestown settled

    Jamestown settled
    The first English colony settled in the Americas in Virginia.
  • Mayflower Compact written

    Mayflower Compact written
    Known as the first established constitution in the entire world. Set the framework of government for the settlers in Jamestown.
  • Petition of Right

    Petition of Right
    Famous English document that restricted taxation and established the concept of due process.
  • English Bill of Rights

    English Bill of Rights
    Created separation of powers in Parliament, limited monarchy power, and introduced more freedom in speech and elections for the English.
  • Albany Plan of Union

    Albany Plan of Union
    A unified government of the thirteen colonies, created by Ben Franklin, to send one delegate from each to the Albany Congress in 1754.
  • Stamp Act

    Stamp Act
    An act by the Parliament that exacted revenue in the Colonies that forced stamps on documents so that the British could tax them.
  • Boston Massacre

    Boston Massacre
    5 people were killed by British soldiers in a Boston square.
  • Boston Tea Party

    Boston Tea Party
    A protest by Americans on British taxation where they dumped all the tea imported from Great Britain into the Boston Harbor and blamed it on the Native Americans.
  • Intolerable Acts

    Intolerable Acts
    The term that Patriots gave towards the laws that the British passed to punish the Colonies because of the Boston Tea Party.
  • First Continental Congress

    First Continental Congress
    A meeting in Philadelphia between 12 delegates of the Colonies that discussed early inclinations of the American Revolution.
  • American Revolution

    American Revolution
    A war between the U.S. and Great Britain over the politically charged uprising of the Colonies to go against the monarchy of the British so they could create their own democratic nation.
  • Second Continental Congress

    Second Continental Congress
    This meeting was made for the making of the decision to declare war and begin the American Revolution.
  • Declaration of Independence

    Declaration of Independence
    The famous document that declared independence for the Colonies and gave Americans sovereignty from the British.
  • Articles of Confederation

    Articles of Confederation
    The original Constitution for the United States.
  • Shay's Rebellion

    Shay's Rebellion
    A series of rebellious acts by farmers against state and local taxation.
  • Constitutional Convention

    Constitutional Convention
    Delegates ratified the Articles of Confederation.
  • Philadelphia Convention

    Philadelphia Convention
    A gathering of delegates to discuss the separation of legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
  • Connecticut Compromise

    Connecticut Compromise
    Established the two house legislature, proposed by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth