GOVERNMENTCHAPTER 2

Magna Carta (1215) – Limited Government

English Bill of Rights (1689) – fair trial, no excessive bail

Mayflower Compact (1620) – Representative Government

Early Documents

Events leading up to Revolution

Events People involved

French & Indian War Proclamation of 1763 Stamp Act Boston Massacre Tea Act Boston Tea Party Intolerable Acts

British Redcoats John Adams John Hancock Samuel Adams Patrick Henry Paul Revere King George III

First Continental Congress – 1774◦ Patrick Henry◦ They met to send

communications to King George to outline their issues and demands

Lexington & Concord – April 1775◦ Paul Revere◦ British were going to

confiscate colonial arsenal

Second Continental Congress – May 1775◦ Elect a Congress

President – John Hancock

◦ Choose a leader for the army – George Washington

◦ Announce their independence & grievances – Thomas Jefferson

◦ Create a constitution

Steps taken by the Founding Fathers

Declaration of Independence

America’s first constitution Limits the power of the government 1781-1788 Had many weaknesses Was unable to control certain issues Shay’s Rebellion broke out over the

government’s inability to repay military vets FF met in a constitutional convention to

discuss “fixing” the Articles

Articles of Confederation

James Madison – “Father of the Constitution”

Proposed new constitution

Fixed weaknesses Ratified June

1788 Bill of Rights – in

effect Dec. 1791

Constitutional Convention