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15 Jun 1215, Abuses of King John England
1215
Abuses by England’s King John cause a revolt by nobles, who compel him to recognize rights for both noblemen and ordinary Englishmen. This document, known as the Magna Carta, establishes the principle that no one, including the king or a lawmaker, is above the law, and establishes a framework for future documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. -
7 June 1628, the petition of Right
1628
The Petition of Right is a statement of the objectives of the 1628 English legal-reform movement that leads to civil war and the deposing of King Charles I in 1649. This important document sets out the rights and liberties of the common man as opposed to the prerogatives of the crown and expresses many of the ideals that later led to the American Revolution. -
9 Dec 1641, Massachusetts Body of Liberties
1641
The Massachusetts General Court formally adopts the first broad statement of American liberties, the Massachusetts Body of Liberties. The document includes a right to petition and a statement about due process. -
24 Nov 1663, Charter of Rhode Island
1663
The new Charter of Rhode Island grants religious freedom. -
5 Nov 1708, Full Liberty to worship
1708
Connecticut passes the first dissenter statute and allows “full liberty of worship” to Anglicans and Baptists. -
13 Jun 1776, Virginia Declaration of Rights
Virginia’s House of Burgesses passes the Virginia Declaration of Rights. The Virginia Declaration is the first bill of rights to be included in a state constitution in America. -
4 Jul 1776, The final Draft of the Declaration.
1776
The Continental Congress adopts the final draft of the Declaration of Independence on July 4. -
9 Apr 1777 Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia State Bill
Thomas Jefferson completes his first draft of a Virginia state bill for religious freedom, which states: “No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever.” The bill later becomes the famous Virginia Ordinance for Religious Freedom. -
15 Dec 1791, Virginia's acceptance
1791
On Dec. 15, Virginia becomes the 11th state to approve the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, thereby ratifying the Bill of Rights. -
10 Nov 1836, Antislavery
1836
The U.S. House of Representatives adopts gag rules preventing discussion of antislavery proposals. The House repeals the rules in 1844. -
12 Sep 1798, Allen and Sedition Acts
1798
President John Adams oversees the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts. In response, Thomas Jefferson introduces the “Kentucky Resolution” and James Madison issues the “Virginia Resolution” to give states the power to determine the constitutionality of the Alien and Sedition Acts. On Sept. 12, newspaper editor Benjamin Franklin Bache, the grandson of Benjamin Franklin, is arrested under the Sedition Act for libeling President John Adams. -
9 Dec 1868, 14th Amendment
1868
The 14th Amendment to the Constitution is ratified. The amendment, in part, requires that no state shall “deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”