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Established that everyone is subject to the law, including the king. It also guaranteed the rights of individuals.
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The Mayflower Compact was the first agreement for self-government to be created and enforced in America. It established the first democratic government in the colonies.
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The Petition of Right is an English constitutional document that outlined specific liberties. It expressed many ideas that later led to the American Revolution.
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The English Bill of Rights is a document that protects the rights of citizens.
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The Iroquois Confederacy convinced tribes to exist in unity and peace. Their political system was set up as a two-house legislature.
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Cato's letters are a group of writings that were sent to the thirteen colonies. The letters had a strong theme of liberty. The thirteen colonies were influenced by these letters. The letters may have sparked the American Revolution.
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The Stamp Act Congress consisted of representatives from 9 colonies. They came together to protest the Stamp Act issued by British Parliament.
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The First Continental Congress was a meeting among all thirteen colonies. The Continental Congress decided to boycott all contact with British goods.
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Common Sense is a book written by Thomas Paine. It spoke directly to the thirteen colonies. It advocates for independence from Great Britain and the creation of a democratic republic.
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The Declaration of Independence announced that Americans were no longer under British rule. It contains the ideals or goals of our nation.
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The Artilces of Confederation is a written document that established the functions of the national government of the United States after it declared independence from Great Britain.
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The Federalist Papers are a collection of writings that promoted the ratification of the United States Constitution.
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The Great Compromise refers to the agreement among all states to have a two-house legislature, consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives.
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The purpose of the Constitutional Convention was to decide how America was going to be governed. Members who attended the Constitutional Convention discussed possible improvements to the Articles of Confederation.
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The Virginia Plan was proposed during the Constitutional Convention. The plan proposed a strong central government composed of three branches: executive, judicial, and legislative.