-
Jun 19, 1215
Magna Carta
Granted the rights of individuals by providing the foundation for them in Anglo-American laws. It influenced the colonists in the Thirteen Colonies and the formation of the Constitution. It was amended many times between 1215-1225. -
1517
Martin Luther: "95 Theses"
A document written by Luther accusing the Catholic Church of selling “indulgences” to absolve sin. Luther felt that the Bible was the main religious authority and humans could only reach salvation by their faith, not their deeds. This sparked the Protestant Reformation. His works changed the course of religious and cultural history. -
1543
Nicolaus Copernicus
Copernicus was a mathematician and astronomer. In his later life, he was seen as the initiator of the Scientific Revolution. In a book published in 1543, just before he died, he presented ideas around the universe, that Earth orbited the sun and that there was a direct relationship between the distances of the planets from the sun and the size of their orbits. -
Mayflower Compact
Written by the men on the Mayflower, it was a legal document tying the Pilgrims together once they arrived in New England. It was the first governing document of the new colony. -
Period: to
Inclosure Acts (Enclosure Acts)
Acts that were passed removing prior rights of locals to rural land that had been used by their families for many generations. The people who lost the rights to the land were offered smaller pieces of land of lower quality. The good land became privately owned farms owned by politically connected farmers. The first act was passed in 1773. Acts continued to passed up through 1882. -
Adam Smith: "The Wealth of Nations"
A book written by Adam Smith, providing his ideas on how to build a nation’s wealth. He suggested wealth for a country was more about goods and services, rather than actual money. He also emphasized the benefits of dividing labor into multiple, smaller steps. This allowed people to specialize in one step and become more efficient. He also suggested that the economy is automatic and will regulate itself if left alone. -
Declaration of Independence
Document officially announcing the separation between Great Britain and the United States. It was written by the first thirteen colonies (states) of the United States. It created a new kind of government that's main job was to protect the rights of the people/its citizens. -
Period: to
US Constitution (vs. The Articles of Confederation)
The Articles of Confederation were written in 1781. The Constitution was written in 1788. The documents have many things in common, but differ more. The Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation. Both documents detail how the government will work. Some additions to the Constitution were the electoral college, president, representatives, senators, Supreme Court and majority rules ideas. -
Period: to
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Rousseau is considered one of the most influential philosophers during the Enlightenment. He made arguments including that science and arts progressing caused the corruption of virtue and morality and that humans are naturally good but negatively influenced historical events that created the society. He published many novels, including an autobiography. -
Mary Wollstonecraft
Wollstonecraft was a philosopher. In 1792, she wrote "A Vindication of the Rights of Women," where she argued that women were not naturally inferior to men, rather became inferior to men because they did not have the same education. -
Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions
A document outlining the rights of American women and entitling them as American citizens. It surfaced from the Seneca Falls Convention in New York. It was written mainly by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, with assistance from Lucretia Mott, Martha C. Wright and Mary Ann McClintock and was based on the Declaration of Independence, connecting the struggles of the founding fathers with the struggles of the women’s movement. -
Sojourner Truth: Ain't I a Woman
A short speech spoken by Sojourner Truth (freed slave at the time) at the Women's Rights Convention in Ohio. It was in response to many anti-feminist speeches made that day. The speech was in support of women's rights and became her most famous speech. Truth made many anti-slavery speeches and speeches about women's rights in her time. -
Abraham Lincoln: Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address was Lincoln’s most famous speech. It was delivered at a dedication ceremony of the new cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This cemetery was where soldiers who had died in the Civil War were buried. During this speech, Lincoln emphasized that “all men were created equal.” -
Period: to
Max Weber: "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism"
This book has been considered the fourth most important 20th century sociology book. It's a founding text in economic sociology. Weber was a German sociologist, politician and economist. -
John Meynard Keynes
Keynes was a British economist with many controversial ideas. He advocated the use of fiscal and monetary policies to help minimize the negative impact of recessions and depressions. His most important book was "The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money," which was published in 1936. -
Martin Luther King: "I Have a Dream"
King's "I Have a Dream" speech was delivered during the March on Washington. He delivered this speech to more than 250,000 supporters on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. It called for the United Stated to end racism. It is considered one of the biggest moments of the civil rights movement. -
Milton Friedman
Friedman was an American economist opposed to Keynes’ policies. He felt there was a natural rate of unemployment. He disagreed with Keynes and argued that price depends on money supply. His ideas influenced many government policies, particularly in the 1980s. -
Period: to
Eve Sedgwick
Sedgwick was an author and scholar focused on gender studies, queer theory and critical theory. She authored many books and is considered one of the originators of Queer Theory. -
Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw
Crenshaw is a law professor and civil rights activist. She specializes in race and gender issues. She is well known her the development of intersectional theory. -
Period: to
Derrick Bell
Bell was a civil rights activist. He was the first African-American professor to be tenured at Harvard and is credited as one of the originators of the "critical race theory".