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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
First recorded British movement recognizing rights, signed by King John -
Mayflower Compact
The first written constitution for the pilgrims, which linked them together legally and with the king. Additionally it established a temporary government there. -
Establishment of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
(no particular start date) First colony to adopt a British law system. -
Connecticut Colony adopts the Fundamental Orders
First colonial constitution led to many others. It was a large push of self-government as well as divided power. Other colonial legislature varied, some accepting the king of England, others resenting him. -
Death of Thomas Hobbes
Hobbes is credited with the idea, later known as the Social Contract Theory of government, that people give up their rights for order and security. This idea spurred many other philosophers. -
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The Enlightenment
Also known as the Age of Reason, this was a time in which there where great strides in politics, philosophy, science, communications, and many other things. It also lead to questioning the government and the divine rule of kings. -
English Bill of Rights
Was passed by Parliament declaring the rights and liberties of the people, limiting the monarchy. It also established William III and Mary II on the throne after the Revolution. -
Death of John Locke
Known as the 'Father of Liberalism,' Locke is credited with the idea that all people had 'natural rights' that come from a higher power. Including life, liberty, and property. Locke heavily influenced many ideas of the american revolution, Declaration of Independence, and is even incorporated later in the U.S. Constitution. -
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French and Indian War
This caused a England to have huge debt and a standing army in the colonies leading for the need for taxation. Also there was tension having the army around. -
Death of Charles Louis de Montesquieu
Another philosopher of the Enlightenment, he is credited with the idea of separation of powers, later used by the colonies and the U.S.A. -
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Stamp Act and it's repeal
First English tax on colonies. A tax on any paper that frustrated many colonists leading to it's repeal. -
Townshend act
An attempt by England to assert it's control on the colonies who viewed themselves as self governed. -
Boston Massacre
British soldiers shot 11 people, 5 killed and 6 injured. This was largely blown up by the media and greatly added to tensions in the colonies with having the British army around. -
Boston Tea Party
Colonists hijacked british ships and dumped large sums of tea overboard as a response to a tax on tea which was widely popular due to poor water. -
Coercive Acts
Also known as the Intolerable Acts, were four acts passed by Parliament as a direct response to the Boston Tea Party. This led to a large gain in the unity and action among the colonists. -
Period: to
First Continential Congress
Included 12 of 13 colonies, here they decided to place an embargo on British imports and a boycott on their goods as well. -
Battle at Lexington and Concord
Known as "the shot heard around the world" it kicked off the American Revolution. Won by a militia of 'Minutemen' who used tactics known as guerrilla warfare (a.k.a. fighting dirty, hiding in trees, etc.) -
Second Continental Congress
Included all thirteen colonies, elected John Hancock as their president for the time being, George Washington was elected Commander of the Continental Army, they acted like a central government during the war. -
Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" was published
Challenging the monarchy it was written simply so most could understand that it asked for independence saying that at this point there was no was to completely reconcile with Brittian, the could only submit to tyranny or claim independence. -
Declaration of Independence!!
Written mainly by Thomas Jefferson, it used ideas of Locke's, Hobbes', and other philosophers to explain the source of basic rights, specify their complaints to justify the break, and state their determination. Signed by the delegates from each state, they declared independence.
