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May 3, 1469
Niccolo Machiavelli
Political advsor, philosopher, known for The Prince, his writings were an inspiration to Enlightment proponents of modern democratic political philosphy. -
Thomas Hobbes
English philosopher, conditional defender of monarchy as the source of civic order, Leviathan (his book) established social contract theory, he was a classical realist. -
John Locke
English political philosopher of The Enlightenment, proponent of the concept of a social contract, father of classical liberalism. -
Sir Issac Newton
Central figure of The Enlightment, referred to as a "natural philosopher" -
English Bill of Rights
Lays out certain basic civil rights, The Bill of Rights lays down limits on the powers of the monarch and sets out the rights of Parliament, including the requirement for regular parliaments, free elections, and freedom of speech in Parliament, it prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, and allows protestans to have arms. -
Adam Smith
Scottish philosopher, created political economy, father of modern economics, laid the foundations of clasical free market economic theory, early thinker about government expenditure and taxation. -
Thomas Paine
Advocate of American independence, one of the Founding Fathers of the US, fought in French Revolution, wanted America to gain independence from Britain. -
James Madison
Political theorist, fourth President of The United States, instrumental in creating the US Constitution, Madison became one of the leaders in the movement to ratify the Constitution, "Father of The Bill of Rights", supervised the Louisiana Purchase, he helped write the Federalist Papers. -
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American Revolution
Gave America the freedom from Britain, took place primarily in North America, the war began when the resistance of many Americans to taxes imposed by the British parliament, they claimed the taxes were unconstitutional. -
Decleration of Independence
Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, announced the 13 colonies, John Adams was the leader pushing for independence, Thomas Jefferson composed the original draft the the document, asserted certain natural and legal rights, it is a well known statement on human rights. -
Bill of Rights
Created on September 25, 1789, ratified on December 15, 1791, first ten ammendements to the US Constitution, James Madison is the author, the first ammendments guarantees freedom of religion, speech, press, and peaceable assembly, reserves for the people any rights not specifically mentioned in the Constitution and reserves all powers not specifically granted to the federal government to the people or the States.
