Government Timeline 4th Period

  • Jamestown

    Jamestown

    First permanent English settlement in North America.
  • House Of Burgesses

    House Of Burgesses

    First colonial legislature is established in Viriginia.
  • Plymouth Colony Massachusetts

    Plymouth Colony Massachusetts

    Arrival of the Pilgrims to New England leads to the establishment of the Mayflower Compact creating a social contract for governing.
  • Sugar Act

    Sugar Act

    Tax on sugar imported to the American colonies and was viewed as a rights violation by the colonists.
  • Stamp Act

    Stamp Act

    Tax on documents and other goods that led to widespread protests and grievances being sent to king George III. Parliament repeals act but reasserts control. Beginning of the "No Taxation Without Representation" idea.
  • U.S. Constitution Ratified

    U.S. Constitution Ratified

    9 states ratify the constitution and becomes the law of the land and provides the framework for the entire US government.
  • Bill of Rights Adopted

    Bill of Rights Adopted

    First ten amendments known together as the bill of rights is adopted. This guarantees many freedoms for the people from the government we have to this day.
  • 11th Amendment Ratified

    11th Amendment Ratified

    Eleventh amendment is passed which protects states from certain lawsuits from citizens that don't live in the state they are suing.
  • 12th Amendment Ratified

    12th Amendment Ratified

    Amendment made because of the election of 1800 and now makes it so the vice president and president are voted for together instead of the old first and second place system.
  • 13th Amendment Ratified

    13th Amendment Ratified

    Passed after civil war and abolished slavery. First of the reconstruction amendments.
  • 14th Amendment Ratified

    14th Amendment Ratified

    Amendment made anyone born on US soil a citizen so former slaves could be citizens and gave all citizens equal protections.
  • 15th Amendment Passed

    15th Amendment Passed

    Allowed any man regardless of color or race to vote. Would later lead to state laws making it difficult.