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600 BCE
Natural Law
The government created a law which was a belief that moral principles can be applied to any culture or system of justice - The government used it to explain why the 13 colonies needed to rebel against the British -
Period: 600 BCE to 600
Classical Period
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Period: 600 to
English Roots
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Rule of Law
Everyone had to obey it including the leaders.- This helped keep everything fair for everyone and justice was dealt equally. -
Period: to
Enlightenment
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Compacts
An agreement for governing of a new colony, changed the government by giving more independence -
Petition of Rights
In 1628 Parliament passed a law called the Petition of Right which emphasized the principle of limited government.- This affirmed that the king’s power was not absolute. -
Town Meetings
A form of direct democracy that gave everyone in the community a voice, changed the government to a more voting system -
Code of Laws
Guaranteed basic rights, changed government to giving basic liberties and such -
Hobbes Book: Leviathan
People used to live in a state of nature. It was imaginary before any government. Everyone was completely free. It affected the government by producing an idea that people are to be free. -
Locke: Second Treatise on Government
In a state of nature, people had a natural right. Its affect led to a certain amount of freedom given for government protection. -
The English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights, was passed by Parliament in 1689.- It reaffirmed the principle of individual rights. -
Period: to
Colonial Period
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Montesquieu: The Spirit of Laws
This idea was not one person in power. It led to the creation of three branches of government. -
Rousseau: The Social Contract
Rousseau proposed the idea that popular sovereignty is the legitimacy of government. Its effect on the future government was that it gave the citizens the choice to choose a leader rather than God choosing it for them. -
Thomas Paine: Common Sense
Common Sense pushed colonies towards independence. The book was influenced by Rousseau. It provided a reason for the colonists to rebel against Britain. -
Militias
Colonial patriots fought against British soldiers for their right, changed government not just to use force -
Liberty Bell
The former U.S. chief justice Warren Burger rang a replica of the Liberty Bell.- It reminded them that this country was held together by ideas not blood or history. -
America's Birthday
Americans celebrated their nation’s 200th birthday.- They gained Independence. -
Signing of the Constitution
Americans celebrated the signing of the constitution.- They finally had a set of principles to go off of.
