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1500 BCE
Moses
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
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
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
In 1215, English nobles were upset with the oppressive policies of King John. -
The Mayflower compact
The Pilgrims governed themselves by a written contract between themselves.
This would be a huge influence on our government and Constitution. -
The Fundamental orders Of Connecticut
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut was the first constitution written in America and had a huge influence on the Founders of America. -
The English Bill of Rights
Even after the signing of the Magna Carta, power struggles between the monarch and Parliament (England’s law making body) persisted for more than 400 years. -
House of Lords
The members of the upper chamber were the first sons of noble families and later members who inherited their positions. -
House of Commons
The members of the lower chamber were elected and were often the younger sons of noble families or wealthy commoners. -
The Enlightment
A group of philosophers including John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu, and Voltaire, sought to apply the rights of scientific inquiry to study human society. -
The French and Indian War
A struggle between French and British over lands in what is now western Pennsylvania and Ohio led to the start of the war. -
The Stamp Act
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. -
English Common Law
This was used in the courts of England since the Middle Ages. -
The Boston Tea Party
A group of colonists, dressed Mohawk Indians dumped 342 chests of British tea into Boston Harbor. -
The First Continental Congress
On September 5, 1774, delegates from every colony except Georgia met in Philadelphia for the Congress. -
The Second Continental Congress
Within three weeks, delegates from all thirteen colonies gathered in Philadelphia for the Second Continental Congress in May 1775. -
The Declaration of Independence
This is one of most famous documents in world history -
The Thirteen English Colonies
Each of the thirteen colonies had its own government consisting of three parts:
1. A governor (usually appointed by the king)
2. A legislative body (elected at least in part)
3. A court system -
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union was the first written constitution of the United States. Written in 1777 and stemming from wartime urgency, its progress was slowed by fears of central authority and extensive land claims by states -
The Constitution of the United States
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
