History timeline cover

U.S. Government Timeline - O.L.

  • 1215

    Magna Carta

    Magna Carta
    King John signed the Magna Carta to outline rights that the king could not violate, included trial provisions and taxation, and moved from rule of man to rule of law.
  • Jamestown's House of Burgesses

    Jamestown's House of Burgesses
  • Mayflower Compact

    Mayflower Compact
  • Petition of Right

    Petition of Right
    King Charles was required to sign the Petition of Right, which required monarchs to obtain Parliamentary approval before they could pass new taxes and the government could not unlawfully imprison people or establish military rule during times of peace.
  • The New England Confederation

    The New England Confederation
    Plymouth, Connecticut, Massachusetts Bat, and New Haven colonies formed to defend against threats from the Natives and the Dutch colonists.
  • Renewed Conflict

    In 1685, there were renewed conflicts and rebellions between the Crown (the monarchs) and Parliament.
  • English Bill of Rights

    English Bill of Rights
    Guaranteed free speech and protection from the cruel and unusual punishments.
  • Albany Plan of Union

    Albany Plan of Union
    Representatives appointed by Colonial assemblies and a presidential general appointed by the king. It became the basis for the Constitution.
  • The French and Indian War

    The French and Indian War
    The British colonies fought against the French who had help from the native tribes. Started 1754 and ended 1763
  • Sugar Act

  • Stamp Act

    This was the first direct tax on paper goods and legal documents. It was met with protests and was eventually repealed.
  • The Boston Massacre

    The Boston Massacre
    British soldiers fired into a crowd of colonists, leading to five colonist deaths.
  • Boston Tea Party

    Boston Tea Party
    Revolutionaries dumped tea into the harbor from the British trade ships.
  • The Intolerable Acts

    The Intolerable Acts
    Colonists were forced to house British soldiers in their homes.
  • First Continental Congress

    First Continental Congress
    During the first continental congress, they came up with the declaration and resolves. This stated that they wanted the intolerable acts repealed or they would boycott British goods. Britain rejected this.
  • The Second Continental Congress

    The Second Continental Congress
    During this, they established a Continental army and assumed the role of an independent government. From this, came the Declaration of Independence.
  • Declaration of Independence

    Declaration of Independence
    Likely drawn from the Virginia Declaration of Rights and was inspired by John Locke's ideas during The Enlightenment. It blamed the king for a multitude of issues in the colonies and was signed by the delegates of the second Continental Congress on August 1, 1776
  • The Articles of Confederation

    The Articles of Confederation
    This was the first form of American government. It was supposed to help the colonies keep their "sovereignty, freedom, and independence." The ratification of the document was delayed b arguments over who would have control over the western lands. The Articles were very flawed, as they gave too much power to state governments and not enough power to the national government. This caused pressure to change the Articles to better fit the government that the colonists wanted.
  • The Constitutional Convention

    The Constitutional Convention
    George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison called a meeting in Philidelphia in order to revise the Articles.
  • The Great Compromise

    The Great Compromise
    This is the current system and the plan that they settled on for the Constitution.
  • The Federalist Papers

    The Federalist Papers
    This was a series of essays that were in favor of the U.S. Constitution. They were written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay.
  • Shays Rebellion

    Shays Rebellion
    Massachusetts farmers rebelled over the prospect of losing land. Farmers attacked courthouses to keep judges from foreclosing on farms. They ended up storming military arsenal
  • The Virginia Plan

    The Virginia Plan
    This was a plan that was considered during the creation of the Constitution.
  • The New Jersey Plan

    The New Jersey Plan
    This was another plan that was drafted while creating the Constitution.
  • 3/5ths Compromise

    3/5ths Compromise
    This was a compromise that considered each enslaved person 3/5ths of a person in order to boost population in states
  • The Constitution

    The Constitution
    This is the current government system.
  • The Northwest Ordinance

    The Northwest Ordinance
    Established a plan for settling the Northwest Territory
    Included disputed lands
    Created a system for admitting states to the Union
    Banned slavery in the territory
    Guided the nation’s western expansion
  • The Presidential Election of 1789 and 1792

    The Presidential Election of 1789 and 1792
    George Washington was elected by the electoral college for two terms.
  • Dual Federalism

    1789-1933
  • The Bill of Rights

    The Bill of Rights
    This is the first ten amendments added to the constitution.
  • The Election of 1800

    The Election of 1800
    Thomas Jefferson won the election against Arron Burr and became president. Burr became VP
  • The Marshall Court

    John Marshall began to expand the power of the Supreme Court
  • Madbury V. Madison

    Power of judicial review
  • McCulloch v. Maryland

    Maryland taxed the nat. bank. Court ruled in favor of nat. bank.
  • Political Party Division

    After 1824, the Democratic-Republican party split into today’s two major parties—Democrats, Republicans​
  • Gibbons V Ogden

    Power of fed gov. to regulate interstate commerce
  • Dred Scott V Sanford

    Scott sued for his and his family's freedom but the court ruled that he was still property.
  • Morrill Act

    Granted large tracts of land to states; states sold land and used money for colleges
  • Pendleton Civil Service Act

    Passed because of the assassination of President James Garfield
  • Plessy V. Ferguson

    Ruled that segregation was legal as long as the facilities were equal
  • 16th amendment

    gave Congress authority to set a federal income tax
  • Media in the 1920s

    Media in the 1920s
    Radio became the first form of electronic media​
  • Native Citizenship

    Indigenous Americans granted citizenship in 1924
  • The New Deal

    Roosevelt's solution to the Great Depression
  • The Great Depression

    the stock market crashed and the US went into a financial drought
  • US V. Darby

    Upheld Fair Labor Standards Act
  • Korematsu V. US

    Upheld involuntary internment of ethically Japanese American citizens
  • Media in the 50s

    Media in the 50s
    Television replaced radio as the most influential electronic media​
  • Brown V. Board of Education

    Ruled segregation as illegal
  • Civil Rights Movement

    civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s
  • Tinker V. Des Moines

    Schools were not allowed to prevent students from protesting the Vietnam war.
  • Miranda V. Arizona

    Expanded the rights of those accused of crimes (miranda rights)
  • Loving V. Virginia

    Struck down laws that prevented interracial marriage
  • New Federalism

    Began in 1980s
    Reaganomics
  • Department of Health and Human Services is created

  • Welfare System Management

    Congress gave states authority to manage welfare systems with block grants
  • 9/11

    9/11
    Terrorist attack on the Twin Towers.
  • Homeland Security

    Formed after 9/11
  • Obama is elected

    Obama is elected
    Obama is elected president and becomes the first black president in US history
  • D.C. V. Heller

    Ruled 2nd amendment protects individuals rights to keep and bear arms for self defense
  • Obergefell V. Hodges

    Ruled states must grant and recognize same-sex marriage
  • Trump is elected

    This is self explanatory.
  • Biden is elected