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Jan 1, 1100
England 1100s-1200s Monarchs(kings and queens)rule but noble families gained power via land in exchange for loyalty,tax $, and military support
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Jan 1, 1215
1215 Magna Carta-nobles force king John, who was treating them harshly, to sign a document
-Limited power of monarch-no one could be above the law -Everyone would get equal treatment under the law -trial by one's peers -
Jan 1, 1300
1300s next king develops a group that represents common people-Parliament
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ENGLISH COLONIES
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1600s-1700s
-Accept common law
-No ruler is above the law
-Should have basic rights protected
-Should have a voice in gov't -
1619 House of Burgesses(VA)
-1st representative assembly/legislature in English colonies -
1620 Mayflower Compact
-established direct democracy -
John Locke, English writer(1632-1704)
-People are born free, equal, and independent -Born with natural rights to life, liberty, and property that no gov't could take away -Gov't must maintain social contract -People gave up part of their freedom in exchange for protection of natural rights -
1639 Fundamental Order of Connecticut
-1st written constitution in America
-assembly of elected reps from each town to make laws
-popular election of governors and judges -
1641 Massachusetts Body of Liberties
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1683 Pennsylvania Frame of Government and 1701 PA Charter of Privileges
-establish basis of US Constitution and Bill of Rights -
1688 Glorious Revolution-Parliament removes king James III and replaces him with his daughter Mary and her husband William
-From this time on, no ruler would have more power than Parliament -
1689 English Bill of Rights
-Further restricted monarchs power -Guaranteed free elections to parliament -Right to a fair trial -Eliminated cruel and unusual punishments -
Enlightenment
-Locke and Montesquieu were enlightenment thinkers
-Believed God had created an orderly universe
-The laws of the universe could be discovered through the use of human reason
-Laws that governed nature also applied to human life and society