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Period: Jan 1, 1200 to
Events
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Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta
King John was forced to sign this document when the nobles in his kingdom rebelled against him. This document put a great limit on the power of the English monarch and stated that nobody, not even the king, was above the law. -
Mayfower Contract
The Pilgrims made this plan for their government before they landed and settled in Plymouth. This established a tradition of direct democracy. -
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
This was America's first written constitution. It called for an elected representative from each town to make laws. It also called for the popular election of a governer and judges. -
Glorious Revolution
The English Parliament removed King James II fom the throne and replaced him with his daughter Mary and her husband William. This transfer of power happened wthout any struggle and proved that Parliament was more powerful than the English monarch. -
English Bill of Rights
Clarified the relationship between Parliament and the monarch. It further restricted the monarch's power and guarunteed free elections to Parliament. It ao gave the right to a fair trial and eliminated cruel and unusual punishment. -
John Locke
This man is responsible for the idea that all people are born with natural rights that nobody should be allowed to take away. These include the rights to life, liberty, and property. -
Banron de Montesquieu
This man had the idea to seperate the branches of government so that they couldn't overpower eachother or threaten individual rights. -
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Wrote that people under a government have a contract with the government. In this contract, people give up part of their freedom in exchange for protection of thier rights.
