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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was signed between the feudal barons and King John at Runnymede near Windsor Castle. Magna Carta means "Great Charter". This Document was one of the most important ones of Medieval England. It stated that the king and his subjects would govern England and deal with its people according to the costumes of the federal law. -
Mayflower Compact
It was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. It was a temporary government for people on the Mayflower ship. The document stated that hey relied on the majority of the people. -
Thomas Hobbes (Leviathan)
Thomas' book contains the form of society and government, and is one of the most earliest and most influential examples of the social contract theory.The book argues for a social contract and rule by an absolute sovereign. It influenced the American government by making and arguing that we needed the socail congtract theory. -
John Locke (Two Treatsies on Government)
The book was a work of political philosophy published anonymously. The first treatise is a criticism of Robert Filmers' Patriarch, while the second treatise outlines Locke's ideas for a more civilized society based on natural rights and contract theory. It influenced America today because now we have natural rights. -
English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights was an act of declaring certain freedoms. They gave the right to bear arms, the right to petition the king, and the right from cruel and unusual punishments. It also wanted to limit the power of monarchs. It protected all of English citizens. It influenced America today because now we have the right from creul and unisal punishment and the right to bear arms too. -
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (The Social Contract)
In the Social Contract is argues that "Men are born free, yet everywhere are in chains." It argues that the civil society does nothing to enforce the equality and individual freedom of men. Overall, Rousseau’s central argument in The Social Contract is that government has the responsibility to exist and to govern by “the consent of the governed.” Today this may not seem too extreme of an idea, but it was a very big deal when The Social Contract was published. -
Baron de Montesquieu (On the Spirit of Laws)
The Spirit of Laws is a treatise on political theory first published anonymously. It argued that the best kind of governmemnt is the one that was seperated by three different groups. It also wanted a constitutional system of government and the ending of slavery. Today, because of this, we have three different branches in the governement and no more slavery. -
Voltaire (Treatise on Tolerance)
This book written by Voltaire follows the trail of Jean Calas, a Protestant accused of murdering his son to prevent his conversion to Catholicism and executed on 10 March 1762. It calls for tolerance between religions and targets religious fanaticism. This caused America today to not judge or band any types or kinds of religion. -
Cesare Beccaria (On Crime and Punishment)
The book On Crime and Punishment supports torture and the death penalty. Beccaria promoted criminal Justice. This book had a profound influence on America's founding fathers. Possibly because of this book we now have the death penalty. -
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First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates from the 16 colonies. They discussed their options. Some of their options were an economic boycott of British trade and petitioning King George III for redress of the grievances they also discussed. They created another convention (Contenintal Congress) to halt the enforcement of the intolerable acts. It didn't pass. -
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Second Continentla Congress
It was a convention of delegates from the thirteen colonies that started meeting in the summer of 1775. They managed the colonial war effort and went stright towards independence. By raising armies, directing strategy, appointing diplomat, and making formal treaties, the Congress acted like the national government of what became the United States. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was drafted by Thomas Jefferson. It gave America its independence from Britain. Today, we are still indeoendent because of this declaration. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was a document signed by the 13 original colonies that stated the United States of America was the confederation of sovereign states and served as its first constitution. This was later to become "The U.S. Constitution". This influenced America today because the United States is still the ruler and controller of all the states. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was signed by representatives of King George III of Great Britain and representatives of the United States of America in Paris. This treaty ended the American Revoluionary War. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion was an uprising due to economis terrorism and growing tension with the State and Federal Governments. He wanted to reform the state government. At the end, the rebels got in a fight with government troops and 30 rebeld were wounded. -
Philadelphia Convention (Constitutional Convention)
The convention was supposed to adress the problems with the Articles of Confederation. At the end, a whole new government was formed. -
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece was a Greek civilization belonging to a [period of Greek history around 500 BC. It began with the repelling of a persain invasion by Athenian leadership. -
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was an italic civilization that began on the Italian Peninsula in 509BC. The city approximately lasted 12 centuries. It shifted from a monarchy to a classical republic.