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500
Greek Democracy
Athenian democracy developed in the Greek city-state of Athens, comprising the central city-state of Athens and the surrounding territory of Attica, around 508 BC.Athens was one of the first known democracies. Other Greek cities set up democracies, and most followed an Athenian model, none were as powerful as that of Athens. -
Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta Signed
King John of England agreed, in 1215, to the demands of his barons and authorized that handwritten copies of Magna Carta be prepared on parchment.He bound not only himself but his "heirs, for ever" to grant "to all people of his country the liberites and rights that the Magna Carta stated. -
Period: Jan 1, 1500 to
Iroquois Confederation
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Mayflower Compact Signed
The Mayflower Compact was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. It was written by colonists, later known as Pilgrims. The signers were forty one males. It was signed on November 11, 1620. -
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New England Confederation Approved
It was a political and military alliance of the English colonies of Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven. Established May 29, 1643, its primary purpose was to unite the Puritan colonies against the Native Americans. The New England Confederation was highly successful in terms of bonding the colonies together. -
Parliament Established
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Thomas Hobbes - Levithan
The book concerns the structure of society and legitimate government, and is regarded as one of the earliest and most influential examples of social contract theory.It is often considered one of the most profoundly influential works of political thought ever written.In the book, which was written during the English Civil War, Thomas Hobbes argues for a social contract and rule by an absolute sovereign. -
English Bill of Rights Established
The Bill of Rights is an act of the Parliament of England. The Bill of Rights was passed by Parliament in December 1689. he English Bill of Rights 1689 inspired in large part the United States Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights laid out certain basic rights for all Englishmen, these rights continue to apply today. -
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John Locke Two Treatises of Government
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Iroquois Confederation
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Adopted Albany Plan of Union
The Albany Plan was proposed by Benjamin Franklin at the Albany Congress in 1754 in Albany, New York. It was an early attempt at forming a union of the colonies "under one government as far as might be necessary for defense and other general important purposes during the French and Indian War. A committee, formed to consider the different plans, settled on Franklin's plan making only small modifications. n the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, the Albany Plan of Union served as an inspirationa -
Baron De Montesque - On The Spirit of Laws
The Spirit of the Laws is a treatise on political theory first published anonymously by Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu in 1748.In 1750 Thomas Nugent published the first English translation. Montesquieu spent nearly twenty years researching and writing the book. -
Colonial Legislatures
The colonial legislatures had a great deal of power including the ability to muster troops, levy taxes and pass laws. They became accustomed to these perogatives and were unwilling to relinquish these rights when Great Britain decided to return to the scene. -
Jean Jacque Rousseau- The Social Contract
Social contract implies that the people give up sovereignty to a government or other authority in order to receive or maintain social order through the rule of law. The Social Contract was used in the Declaration of Independence as a sign of enforcing Democracy. -
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Sir John Blackstone - Commentaries on the Laws of England
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First Continental Congress Meets
The First Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from twelve of the thirteen North American colonies that met on September 5, 1774. The Congress was attended by 56 members appointed by the legislatures of twelve of the Thirteen Colonies. -
Second Continental Congress Meets
The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that met beginning on May 10, 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, soon after warfare in the American Revolutionary War had begun.The second Congress managed the colonial war effort, and moved incrementally towards independence, adopting the United States Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776. -
Common Law
Common law, also known as case law, is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action. Common law legal systems are in widespread use even in countries that date their history back to England such as the U.S. -
Enlightment
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Declaration of Independence Signed
The United States Declaration of Independence is a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. It was written by Thomas Jefferson. The Declaration justified the independence of the United States by listing colonial grievances against King George III, and by asserting certain natural rights, including a right of revolution. -
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Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of the United States of America and specified how the national government was to operate.The Articles were created by the representatives of the states in the Second Continental Congress out of a perceived need to have "a plan of confederacy for securing the freedom, sovereignty, and independence of the United States. -
Constitutional Convention Meets
The United States Constitutional Convention took place from May 25 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to address problems in governing the United States of America. It was made because they didnt like the Artices of Confederation which was the way the Great Britian ruled under. -
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Ratifcation of The Constitution
On September 17, 1787, the Constitution was completed, followed by a speech given by Benjamin Franklin. The Convention submitted the Constitution to the Congress of the Confederation, where it received approval according to Article 13 of the Articles of Confederation. -
Written Constitutions
A written constitution is a formal document defining the nature of the constitutional settlement, the rules that govern the political system and the rights of citizens and governments in a codified form. -
Separation of Powers
The separation of powers, is a model for the governance of both democratic & federative states. The model was first developed in ancient Greece and came into use by the Roman Republic as part of the Constitution of the Roman Republic. Under this model, the state is divided into branches. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights is the name by which the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution are known.They were introduced by James Madison to the First United States Congress in 1789 as a series of legislative articles. The Bill of Rights is a series of limitations on the power of the United States Federal government, protecting the natural rights of personal and intellectual liberty and of property and acting as a guarantee of essential rights and liberties, including freedom of speech. -
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterised by a republican form of government. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, c. 509 BC, and lasted 482 years. The Roman Republic was governed by a complex constitution. Many of Rome's legal and legislative structures can still be observed throughout Europe and the rest of the world.
