1. 2.1 – Our Political Beginnings 2.2 – The Coming of Independence

2. English Colonists brought ordered, limited, and representative government
Ordered: Justice of the Peace, Sheriff, Counties, etc.
Limited: Restricted power and individual rights
Representative: Government serves the will of the people

3. Influential Documents
Magna Carta (1215): granted Englishmen certain rights (trial by jury, protection of property, etc.)
Power of the monarchy was not absolute
The Petition of Right (1628): limited kings power
The Bill of Rights (English – 1689): written to prevent abuses by the King/Queen (right to a fair trial, no excessive bail, no cruel and unusual punishment)

4. 1643: New England Confederation – a “league of friendship” for defense against the Native Americans (dissolved in 1684)
1754: The Albany Plan – Benjamin Franklin proposed the formation of an annual congress of delegates form each colony (not approved by the king)
1765: Stamp Act
1765: Stamp Act Congress – “No taxation without representation”

5. 1770: Boston Massacre
1772: Committees of Correspondence (organized resistance)
1773: Boston Tea Party
1774: Intolerable Acts
1774: 1st Continental Congress – sent a Declaration of Rights protesting colonial policies (denied)

6. 1775: (April) American Revolution starts with the Battles of Lexington and Concord
1775: (May) 2nd Continental Congress – some say this was the 1st government
1776: (July 4th) Declaration of Independence – 13 Colonies became independent states