Capitol

The Origins of American Government

  • 1.  Moses
    1500 BCE

    1. Moses

    Moses got the Ten Commandments from God including not to kill and steal.
  • 2. Old Testament
    600 BCE

    2. Old Testament

    The Christian laws of nature and the relationship between God and people, government and people
  • 3.  New Testament
    100

    3. New Testament

    Continuation of new covenant relationship and relationship between people and government.
  • 4.  The Magna Carta
    1215

    4. The Magna Carta

    A revolutionary document that limited the power of the British monarch for the first time.
  • 5.  The Mayflower Compact

    5. The Mayflower Compact

    First written agreement between Pilgrims of how they would live together.
  • 6.  The Constitution of Connecticut

    6. The Constitution of Connecticut

    The first constitution in North America that greatly influence the Founding Fathers to write one just like it.
  • 7.  The English Bill of Rights

    7. The English Bill of Rights

    The private rights of English citizens that inspired the private rights of American citizens on our Bill of Rights.
  • 9.  House of Lords

    9. House of Lords

    The house of the English parliament that became the model of the U.S. Senate in the American Congress
  • 8.  House of Commons

    8. House of Commons

    The house of the English parliament that became the model of the U.S. House of Representatives in the American Congress
  • 10.  The Enlightenment

    10. The Enlightenment

    The great intellectual movement of Europe that deeply influenced the Founding Fathers of America.
  • 11.  The English Common Law

    11. The English Common Law

    The codified English law that will become the basis for the laws in America.
  • 12.  The Thirteen English Colonies

    12. The Thirteen English Colonies

    The structure of the colonial governors, legislatures and court system will become the foundation of the three branches of government at the state and national levels.
  • 13. The French and Indian War

    The American colonists paid for the war through British imposed taxes spurring on the American Revolution.
  • 14. The Stamp Act

  • 15. The Boston Tea Party

  • 16. The First Continental Congress

  • 17. The Second Continental Congress

  • 18. The Declaration of Independence

  • 19. The Articles of Confederation

    Our first written constitution that set up our government as a weak confederacy.
  • 20. The Constitution of the United States

    The second written constitution that set up our country as a strong, federal government.