Government Timeline Daniel Winbush

  • 1215

    Magna Carta

    The Magna Carta is an English document which was written to declare liberty and independence for the people.
  • Jamestown, North America

    Jamestown was the first permanent settlement in North America, the town faced famine and many other conflicts leading to its destruction, now today a historical landmark,
  • House of Burgesses

    The House of Burgesses was the first colonial legislative body in British American colonies, established in Jamestown.
  • Plymouth, Massachusetts

    Plymouth was the site of the first permanent English settlement by the Pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower.
  • Petition of Right

    The Petition of Right moved power from the King to the parliament, the document ensured that citizens could not be taxed without parliamentary consent.
  • Tea Act

    English tea became marketable in America, this celebration was the ultimate spark to the hosting of the Boston Tea Party.
  • Coercive Acts

    Following the Boston Tea Party were the Coercive Acts, a punishment and symbol of British retaliation, otherwise known as the "Intolerable Acts."
  • First Continental Congress

    The continental congress called for the repeal of the Coercive Acts, and boycott of British goods, this also led to formed militias and committees of safety.
  • American Revolution

    The American Revolution was a political conflict between the thirteen colonies that were discontent with colonial rule.
  • Declaration of Independence

    The Declaration of Independence was a document adopted by the Continental Congress, the document announced the departure of the thirteen colonies from Great Britain.
  • Annapolis Meeting

    The goal of the meeting was to revise the Articles of Confederation, only five states sent delegates. Hamilton and Madison called a full convention the following year.
  • Judiciary Act

    The Judiciary Act established the federal courts' structure and function, sealing loopholes within the Constitution.
  • Constitutional Ratification

    The ratification refers to the Federalists' promised Bill of Rights and the moment the constitution was approved and ratified by all thirteen colonies.
  • Amendment II

    The second amendment ensures that all American citizens have the right to be arms and the right cannot be infringed upon without consequence.
  • Amendment I

    The first amendment protects the establishment of religion and the contents of it along with the freedom of speech and assembly against the government.
  • Amendment IV

    The fourth amendment protects the American people from unreasonable searches and seizures, the official text is written as such.
  • Amendment VI

    The sixth amendment guarantees that all American citizens are subject to a fair and speedy trial where the crime was committed.
  • Amendment VII

    The seventh amendment ensures that no fact tried by a jury should be otherwise re-examined in any Court in the U.S than according to the rules of common law.
  • Amendment IX

    The ninth amendment verifies that while every individual right of the American body may not be stated, those that are fundamental still apply.
  • Amendment VIII

    The eighth amendment ensures that no excessive bail, fines, or imposed cruel and unusual punishments are lawful whatsoever.
  • Amendment V

    The fifth amendment provides several protections for American citizens, including protection from self-incrimination, guaranteed due process and equal protection before the law, access to grand jury trials, and financial compensation in response to the government’s seizure of private property, the original text is written as such.
  • Amendment X

    The tenth amendment verifies that powers not assigned or prohibited to the U.S belong to the States, specifically reserved.
  • Amendment III

    The third amendment protects the privacy of Americans; ensuring that a soldier can only reside in a citizen's house according to their will.
  • Amendment XI

    The eleventh amendment protects a state's power and ensures that an act of suing against the state can only take place with the state's permission.
  • Amendment XII

    The twelfth amendment recognizes the Electoral college; two separate votes are to be casted by it, one for the president and vice president.
  • Emancipation Proclamation

    The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order issued by Abraham Lincoln demanding that all slaves were to be set free.
  • Juneteenth

    While the Emancipation Proclamation set most slaves free, some many slaves did not know that they were free, slave owners took advantage of this lack of knowledge until June 19th when the final slaves were released.
  • Amendment XIII

    The thirteenth amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude within the U.S
  • Amendment XIV

    The fourteenth amendment protects Americans' individual rights by making unreasonable searches or seizures unlawful.
  • Amendment XV

    The fifteenth amendment ensures that no U.S citizen can be denied the right to vote based on racial bias lawfully.
  • Amendment XVI

    The sixteenth amendment implies that the U.S congress has the power to inflict a nationwide tax on income from any source without having to divide the revenue.
  • Amendment XVII

    The seventeenth amendment established the direct election of U.S senators by the citizens of each state.
  • Amendment XVIII

    The eighteenth amendment prohibited the sale of intoxicating liquors but was eventually repealed by the twenty-first amendment.
  • Amendment XIX

    The nineteenth amendment granted all women the right to vote and put a stop to inequality within voting regarding sex.
  • New Deal

    The New Deal realignment unified democrats around President Franklin D. Roosevelt's policies and brought economic relief.
  • Amendment XX

    The twentieth amendment moved the Presidential Inauguration to January 20th and the congressional start date to January 3rd.
  • Amendment XXI

    The twenty-first amendment repealed the eighteenth amendment and declared the transportation of intoxicating liquors within U.S territory to be prohibited.
  • Amendment XXII

    The twenty-second amendment prohibits a president from running more than two terms to prevent controversy.
  • Amendment XXIII

    The twenty-third amendment allows the people of the Electoral College to vote in presidential elections.
  • Amendment XXIV

    The twenty-fourth amendment ensures that every U.S citizen has the right to vote in any election or primary and it should not be denied due to failure to pay tax.
  • Voting Rights Act

    The "Voting Rights Act" made it illegal to interfere with voting rights.
  • Freedom of Information Act

    The "Freedom of Information Act" made it where federal agencies must release records upon request.
  • Amendment XXV

    The twenty-fifth amendment provides details of what is to occur if a president is unable to finish or continue serving a term permanently or temporarily.
  • Amendment XXVI

    The twenty-sixth amendment ensures that anyone at the age of eighteen or above should not be denied the right to vote due to their age.
  • Government In the Sunshine Act

    The "Government In the Sunshine Act" made it so that government meetings must be open to the public.
  • Amendment XXVII

    The twenty-seventh amendment confirms that any law changing the salary of the House of Representatives or Senator cannot take effect until the next term.
  • Government Performance & Results Act

    The act ensured that certain government tasks are turned over to private companies to reduce inefficiencies.
  • Honest Leadership & Open Government Act

    The "Honest Leadership and Open Government Act" put restrictions on gifts and travel.
  • 2013, Nuclear Option

    The 2013, Nuclear Option ended filibusters for all executive and judicial nominees except for the Supreme Court.
  • Shelby v. Holder

    The "Shelby v. Holder Case" removed federal oversight of voting law changes.