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Jun 15, 1217
Magna Carta
British document Which was written to reduce the power of their tyrannical monarch king. The document has influenced the fundamental principles of common law in constitutions around the world for the last 800 years. Around 33% of the US Bill of Rights pulls from this document. -
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Thomas Hobbes
"Thomas Hobbes believed that to enforce law and prevent the chaos of the state of nature, people consented to forming a government. This idea is written into the preamble of the U.S. Constitution, when "We the People" establish a government to do things like "ensure domestic tranquility" and "promote the general welfare."" -
The Mayflower Compact
The is the first written document of government established in what is now the United States. It was written to prevent disputes between Puritans and non-separatist pilgrims who had already launched at Plymouth. -
Petition of Rights
This document was sent by the English Parliament to King Charles I complaining of a series of breaches of law. This petition recognized four principles: no taxation without consent of parliament, no imprisonment without cause, no quartering of soldiers on subjects, and no martial law in peacetime. -
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John Locke
John Locke made several contributions to the enlightenment and to the development of liberalism. Locke wrote "Two Treatises of Government" which offered political theories. These theories offered means to protect "life. liberty and estate" which deeply influenced the United States founding documents. -
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Montesquieu
Montesquieu was a French philosopher who was a great influence on the draft of the Constitution. "Montesquieu argued that the best way to secure liberty and prevent a government from becoming corrupted was to divide the powers of government among different actors who would check each other." Because of this, our Founding Fathers established an "independent executive (the President), legislative (the Congress), and judiciary (the Supreme Court) in the federal Constitution." -
English Bill of Rights
This bill created separation of powers, limited the powers of the King and Queen, enhanced the democratic election, and supported freedom of speech. -
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Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a French philosopher who wrote the Age of Enlightenment. -
The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was a long term cause of the revolution. It was the first major event that the colonies could use to help them break down the differences between them. -
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The First Continental Congress
First Continental Congress met in Carpenter’s Hall and drafted a declaration of rights and grievances.
People; Patrick Henry, George Washington, John Adams, and John Jay. -
The Second Continental Congress
People: Sam Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry, and John Hancock. The main problem was how to finance the cost of the war. -
Virginia Declaration of Rights
The Virginia Declaration of Rights is a document which listed their rights and made a basic foundation for the government. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay’s Rebellion was caused by large amount of debt farmers experienced in the 1780’s and a lack of economic crisis laws. -
The Enlightenment
People Involved: John Locke, Francis Bacon, Baruch Spinoza.
The Enlightenment was a intellectual, philosophical, cultural, and social movement that spread through England, France, Germany, and other parts of Europe. The Enlightenment influenced the American Revolution. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of the United States. However, it created a weak central government which left most of the power up to the states. "The need for a stronger Federal government soon became apparent and eventually led to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The present United States Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789."
