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1500 BCE
Moses (1500 BC)
In the Old Testament, Moses divinely received the Ten Commandments. Moses calls for the law to apply equally to all people, even kings, and sets forth rules for a fair trial. -
600 BCE
Old Testament (600 BC)
The biblical idea of a covenant, an ancient Jewish term meaning a special kind of agreement between people and God, influenced the formation of colonial governments and contributed to our constitutional structure. -
100
New Testament (100 AD)
The biblical idea of a covenant, an ancient Jewish term meaning a special kind of agreement between people and God, influenced the formation of colonial governments and contributed to our constitutional structure. -
1215
The Magna Carta (1215)
In 1215, English nobles were upset with the oppressive policies of King John. His oppressive policies included unfair taxation and cruel treatment of prisoners. They forced him to sign a document - the Magna Carta - recognizing their rights. As the centuries passed, however, the English people came to regard the Magna Carta as a guarantee of limited government. -
The Thirteen English Colonies (1607-1776)
Each of the thirteen colonies had its own government consisting of: A governor (usually appointed by the king) A legislative body (elected at least in part) A court system These colonial institutions exercised some local authority, but the British believed that all colonists owed allegiance to the monarch. -
The Mayflower Compact (1620)
The Pilgrims governed themselves by a written contract between themselves. This would be a huge influence on our government and Constitution. -
The Constitution of Connecticut (1639)
The Constitution of Connecticut had a huge influence on the Founders of America. -
English Bill of Rights (1689)
Even after the signing of the Magna Carta, power struggles between the monarch and Parliament (England’s lawmaking body) persisted for more than 400 years. In 1688, the English Parliament removed King James II from the throne with little resistance The Parliament chose two new monarchs who recognized the Parliament as supreme:
William III
Mary II -
House of Lords (1689)
The members of the upper chamber were the first sons of noble families and later members who inherited their positions. The US Senate is the upper chamber in the American Congress. -
House of Commons (1689)
The members of the lower chamber were elected and were often the younger sons of noble families or wealthy commoners. The US House of Representatives is the lower chamber in the American Congress. -
The Enlightenment (1700s)
An intellectual movement concentrated in France during the 1700s. A group of philosophers including John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu, and Voltaire, sought to apply the rights of scientific inquiry to study human society. They developed rational laws to describe social behavior and applied their finding in support of human rights (natural rights) and liberal economic theories. -
The French and Indian War (1754-1763)
A struggle between French and British over lands in what is now western Pennsylvania and Ohio led to the start of the war. Great Britain won the war in 1763 with British troops led by George Washington. The war was very costly and Britain was left with a huge debt. The British believed the colonists had a obligation to pay that debt - as they had just defended the colonies against the French. -
The Stamp Act (1765)
King George III became the King of England in 1760. To pay for the war, the king and his ministers levied taxes on tea, sugar, glass, paper, and other products. The Stamp Act of 1765 imposed the first direct tax on the colonists required them to pay a tax of legal documents, pamphlets, and even playing cards. Many colonists protested and refused to buy British goods. -
English Common Law (1766)
This was used in the courts of England since the Middle Ages. Common law and its commentaries are based on custom, usages, and general principles found in court decisions that serve as precedents to be applied to situations not covered by statutory law. -
The Boston Tea Party (1773)
A group of colonists, dressed as Mohawk Indians dumped 342 chests of British tea into Boston Harbor. In retaliation, the Boston Parliament passed the Coercive Acts or Intolerable Acts and closed Boston Harbor. -
The First Continental Congress (1774)
On September 5, 1774, delegates from every colony except Georgia met in Philadelphia for the Congress. Their purpose was to decide what to do about the relationship with Great Britain. Colonials leaders and debaters present were Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, Richard Henry Lee & George Washington They imposed an embargo to prohibit trade with England and agreed to boycott British goods. -
The Second Continental Congress (1775)
Within three weeks, delegates from all thirteen colonies gathered in Philadelphia for the Second Continental Congress in May 1775. They immediately assumed powers of a central government. They chose John Hancock of Massachusetts as president. They organized an army. They organized a navy. They made plans to issue money. -
The Declaration of Independence (1776)
This is one of most famous documents in world history. It stirred the hearts of American colonists. No government before in world history had been founded on the principles of human liberty and consent of the governed. Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration explained the reasons the American colonies were angry and justified about the revolution. -
The Thirteen English Colonies (1607-1776)
Each of the thirteen colonies had its own government consisting of: A governor (usually appointed by the king) A legislative body (elected at least in part) A court system These colonial institutions exercised some local authority, but the British believed that all colonists owed allegiance to the monarch. -
The Articles of Confederation (1781)
The plan was called the Articles of Confederation and didn’t go into ineffective immediately because it had to be approved by all thirteen states. By March 1781, all thirteen states had ratified, or approved the Articles. -
The Constitution of the United States (1787)
On this day in history, the Constitution of the United States was complete. Thirty-nine delegates signed the document, including the aging Benjamin Franklin who had to helped to the table to sign it. Before it became law, it had to be ratified by 9 or 13 states.
