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1689 BCE
English Bill of Rights
In 1689, Parliament passed the English Bill of Rights that put clear limits on the monarchy. Monarchs do not have absolute authority but rule with the consent of the people’s representatives in Parliament. -
100
New Testament
The New Testament is the second part of the special kind of agreement between people and God, influenced the formation of colonial governments and contributed to our constitutional structure. -
600
Old Testament (600 BC)
The Old Testament is a special kind of agreement between people and God, influenced the formation of colonial governments and contributed to our constitutional structure. -
1215
Magna Carta 1215
A charter of liberties to which the English barons forced King John to give his assent in June 1215 at Runnymede. In 1215, English nobles were upset with the oppressive policies of King John. They forced him to sign a document called the Magna Carta recognizing their rights. -
1500
Moses 1500 BC
Moses calls for the law to apply equally to all people, even kings, and sets forth rules for a fair trial. -
The Mayflower Compact 1620
The Mayflower Compact was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. It was written by the male passengers of the mayflower, consisting of separatist Puritans, adventures, and tradesmen. This document is a huge influence on our government;s constitution. -
The Constitution of Connecticut 1639
Connecticut is named the constitution state because of the fundamental orders of Connecticut is considered by many to be the state's first constitution, although it was adopted while the state was still an English colony. The document recognized no allegiance to England but instead an independent government. -
House of Lords (1689)
The members of the upper chamber were the first sons of noble families and later members who inherited their positions. It is independent from, and complements the work of, the elected House of Commons. The Lords shares the task of making and shaping laws and checking and challenging the work of the government. -
House of Commons (1689)
The members of the lower chamber were elected and were often the younger sons of noble families or wealthy commoners.The House of Commons of England evolved in the 13th and 14th centuries. -
The Enlightenment (1700s)
An intellectual movement concentrated in France during the 1700s. A group of philosophers including John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu, and Voltaire, sought to apply the rights of scientific inquiry to study human society. -
The French and Indian War (1754-1763)
A struggle between French and British over lands in what is now western Pennsylvania and Ohio led to the start of the war. Great Britain won the war in 1763 with British troops led by George Washington. -
The Stamp Act
To pay for the war, the king and his ministers levied taxes on tea, sugar, glass, paper, and other products. The Stamp Act of 1765 imposed the first direct tax on the colonists required them to pay a tax of legal documents, pamphlets, and even playing cards. -
English Common Law 1766
Common law and its commentaries is based on custom, usages, and general principles found in court decisions that serve as precedents to be applied to situations not covered by statutory law. -
The Boston Tea Party (1773)
The Boston Tea Party was a political protest that occurred on December 16, 1773, at Griffin’s Wharf in Boston, Massachusetts. American colonists, frustrated and angry at Britain for imposing “taxation without representation,” dumped 342 chests of British tea into the harbor. The event was the first major act of defiance to British rule over the colonists. https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/boston-tea-party -
The First Continental Congress (1775)
On September 5, 1774, delegates from every colony except Georgia met in Philadelphia for the Congress. Their purpose was to decide what to do about the relationship with Great Britain -
Second Continental Congress (1775)
The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that started meeting in the spring of 1775 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It succeeded the First Continental Congress, which met in Philadelphia between September 5, 1774, and October 26, 1774. -
Thirteen English Colonies (1607-1776)
Each of the thirteen colonies had its own government consisting of a governor (usually appointed by the king), a legislative body (elected at least in part), a court system. These colonial institutions exercised some local authority, but the British believed that all colonists owed allegiance to the monarch. -
The Declaration of Independence (1776)
There was not a government before in world history had been founded on the principles of human liberty and consent of the governed. Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration explained the reasons the American colonies were angry and justified about the revolution. -
Articles of Confederation
The Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States, on November 15, 1777. However, ratification of the Articles of Confederation by all thirteen states did not occur until March 1, 1781. -
The Constitution of the United States
The Constitution of the United States established America’s national government and fundamental laws, and guaranteed certain basic rights for its citizens. It was signed on September 17, 1787, by delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
