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Jun 19, 1215
Magna Carta/Rule of Law
The nobles worked with King John I in England to limit the power of the monarchy and establish rule of law,which made sure everyone followed the laws no matter who you are and how powerful.The Magna Carta influenced the Declaration of Independence by introducing the rule of law and setting an example for the Founding Fathers. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was signed aboard ship on November 11, 1620 by the Pilgrims,setting up their own government, with new rules to follow in that colony.The Mayflower Compact influenced the signing of Declaration by giving an example to the colonists that they didn't need to be rules by King George. -
The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment,or Age or Reason, refers to the time of abundant itellectual movement, sucessfully ending the Dark Ages, ushering forth ideas that would change the world.The ideas presented in the Enlightment would act the main structure of the Declaration of Independence. -
English Bill of Rights
After a civil war, Parliament chose a new king and queen to rule England,William and Mary, and limited the monarchy, so that Parliament and the people who voted for Parliament had the real power.The Enlgish Bill of Rights influenced the Declaration of Independence with the ideas of election and spurring the first democracy. -
Two Treatises of Government
John Locke published his book about the theory of natural rights, natural law, and the social contract during the Enlightenment and the Founding Fathers used Locke's theories about natural rights and natural law, and the social contract to write the Declaration of Independence. -
The Spirit of the Laws
Baron de Montesquieu publishes his book about the theory of separation of powers during the Enlightenment and the Founding Fathers used his idea to split the government into branches to avoid tyranny. -
Quartering Act
On this day in 1765, Parliament passes the Quartering Act, outlining the locations and conditions in which British soldiers are to find room and board in the American colonies, leading up to the American Revolution, although the soldiers from the Act would remain in Boston until in 1776 Geogre Washington drove them out. -
Townshend Acts Passed
The Townshend Acts imposed expensive taxes on glass, lead, paints, paper and tea imported into the colonies.The colonists viewed the taxation as an abuse of power, resulting in boycotting and protesting.This eventually led to the American Revolution and signing of the Declaration because the colonists were not eager to be heavily taxed and mistreated. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a street fight that occurred , between a "patriot" mob, throwing snowballs, stones, and sticks, and a squad of British soldiers. The street fight escalated and several colonists were killed and this led to a campaign by speech-writers to rouse the ire of the citizenry, causing outrage and demands to break away from Britiain. -
Townshend Repealed
On this day of 1770, the British government repeal the expensive Townshend Acts after continual and fervent protesting from colonists, giving the colonists a reason to break away from Britian. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act, passed by Parliament on May 10, 1773, granted the British East India Company a monopoly of the tea sold in the American Colonies, and the colonies were heavily taxed for tea.The Tea Act was the last straw of the heavily unpopular policies and taxes enforced on colonies. -
Boston Tea Party
The Sons of Liberty members on the night of December 16, 1773 disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians, boarded three ships moored in Boston Harbor, and destroy over 92,000 pounds of tea by dumping it all into the river.This event was one of many that fuelled the American Revolution to happen and ultimately the signing of the Declaration of Independence. -
American Revolution
In 1775, the tensions between Britain and the American colonies were reaching a breaking point, until the Battle of Lexington threw America into a war, one that would be settled in 1776, when the Declaration was officially signed,but the war didn't officially end until 1783. -
Common Sense
Common Sense is a pamphlet published by Thomas Paine in 1776 was written in plain language, making it understandable when Paine challenged the monarchy and explained its greivances..This eventually led to the signing of the Declarartion by raising and pressing American independence. -
Declaration of Independence Signed
On July 4, 1776, Congress approved the final text of the Declaration, officially making July 4th the day America was born and independence was gained
