American Revolution

Sugar Act

Jan 25, 1764

Stamp Act

Jan 25, 1765

Boston Massacre

Jan 25, 1770

Boston Tea Party

Jan 25, 1773

The Battle of Lexington and Concord

Jan 25, 1775

Declaration of Independence

Jul 4, 1776

The Declaration reflects several ideas of John Locke Government's duty to protect the people's natural rights People have the right " to alter or abolish" unjust governments. Popular sovereignty which states that all government power comes from the people.

Battle of Saratoga

Jan 25, 1777

British surrender at Yorktown

Oct 19, 1781

Constitutional Convention

Sep 25, 1786

Ratification of the US Constitution

Dec 7, 1787

They saw the government in terms of a social contract in which "We the people of the United States" entered.There was also a separation of powers among the judicial legislative and executive branches a concept borrowed from Montesquieu