-
Period: Jan 1, 1189 to
England's Common Law
England's Common Law had no codification on the law and the judicial proceedings were binding. Justices and judges were responsible for adjusting England's system to meet everyday needs. They are also responsible for applying legal precedents with facts. This makes the Supreme court binding on every other court. -
Jun 15, 1215
Manga Carta
The Magna Carta was the first time someone acknowledged that everybody, even the King, was subject to the law. It was used as a peace treaty between the King and the rebel barons. It didn't last long however, as King John annulled the charter, the red barons refused to surrender. -
Period: Jan 1, 1230 to
The English Parliament
The English Parliament was Engalnd's legislature. The English Parliament limits the power of England's monarchy. It is now known as the Parliament of the United Kingdom, after merging with Scotland and Great Britain's Parliament in 1801. -
Virginia House of Burgesses
The Virginia House of Burgesses was the first legislative body in the British colonies to be completly democratically elected. Leading up to the revolution, the House's main purpose was to tax virginians. The last doctumented meeting of the house was May 6, 1776. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact, signed November 11, 1620 by 41 English colonists on the Mayflower ship. This compact is the first written documentthat layed as framework for the U.S. current government. This was compact was created to prevent diagreements between the puriatns and the non-separatist Pilgrams. -
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
The Fundamental Orders of Conneticut, adopted by the Conneticut coloney in 1639, set the governments structure and power. Considered the first written constitution, it was similar to the style of government used in Massachusetts. The difference was that men now had more voting rights and could run for elected positions. -
Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes wrote a book in 1651, 'Leviathan' in which he established the social contract theory. This theory he created set the foundation for most Western political philosopy. He believed in the equality and the rights of individuals. -
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution of 1688 was the overthrow of King James the second of England by the union of English Parliamentarians with William of Orange. William’s invasion of England, with the help of a Dutch fleet and army, led to him claiming the English throne as William the third of England. This he did with his wife Mary the second of England, in conjunction with the English Bill of Rights. -
John Locke
John Locke laid the foundation of Enlightenment. Locke strongly believed in the natural rights of people. Locke's essay, "Concerning Human Understanding," talked about his theory of human knowledge, identity, and self-hood. -
English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights was passed by the Parliament of England on December 16, 1689. The English Bill of Rights created separation of powers, limited the powers of the king and queen, enhanced the democratic election and bolstered freedom of speech. The English Bill of Rights contributed to the creation of parliamentary sovereignty. Parliamentary sovereignty gave the legislative body of Parliament absolute sovereignty and made it supreme over all other government institutions. -
Baron de Montesquieu
Baron De Montesquieu was a french philosopher who created the theory of seperation of powers. He believed that "Government should be set up so that no man need be afraid of another." The seperation of powers is used in many different constitutions throughout the world. -
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a Genevan philosopher who believed people had a right to deside how they were governed. He thought people should excercise their sovereighty via a representative assembly. He approved of the republican government, based in city-state. -
Voltaire
Voltaire was a french philosopher known for his seperation of church and state. In 1773, Voltaire published an essay called "Letters concerning the English nation," which was soon published in French as "Letters philosophiques." In this essay, Voltaire published his views British attitudes towards government, literature, and religion.
