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106 BCE
Ancient Roman Empire
The Ancient Roman Empire was the most powerful positions in the government. They were held by two consuls or leaders, who ruled the entire Roman Republic. -
Jun 12, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta is a charter of liberties that states that the English barons that forced King John to give his assent at Runnymede and is also a document constituting a fundamental guarantee of rights and privileges. -
Petition of Right
The Petition of Right was an important English Constitutional document that describes specific liberties that the King is prohibited from interfering with or changing. -
John Locke
John Locke (1632-1704) identified the basis of a true government. He believed in the government's responsibility to protect natural rights of American citizens and believed those inalienable rights included the right to life, liberty, and property. -
English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights was an act that the English Parliament passed to create the separation of powers, limit the King and Queens power, enhance the democratic election, and voices the rights for freedom of speech. -
Iroquois
Iroquois were a historically powerful and extremely important Northeast Native American Confederacy. Their primary purpose was to enforce the Great Law of Peace in order to settle arguments and prevent war between the allied nations. -
Montesquieu
Charles Montesquieu (1689-1755) believed in the idea of democracy. He also believed that the main purpose of government was to maintain law and order, political liberty, and the property of an individual. Montesquieu proposed the best government was the separation of powers into legislative, executive, and judicial powers; preventing any one power from becoming too powerful. The U.S. adopted this part of their government. -
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece had a large influence on the formation of The United States government. Greeks Ancient democracy was developed in the early 19th century, and inspired The United States to create a democracy of their own. -
Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine (1737-1809) was a theorist and a revolutionist. He shaped the many ideas that created the Age of Revolution. Paine also wrote and published "Common Sense", a pamphlet advocating American Independence.
