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Jun 15, 1215
The Magna Carta(Signed)
The Magna Carta was a document that essentially sought to prevent King from exploiting his power. It gives some power to the citizens in the form of Rights, such as, due process of law, freedom of arbitrary imprisonment, etc. The document also created the idea of limited government. It effected the Bill of Rights with inspiration like, "the government should be constitutional, that the law of the land should apply to everyone, and that certain right and liberties were given to every individual. -
John Locke's Natural Rights
John Locke was an English philosopher that believed that people have "natural rights." These rights were: life, liberty, and property. He theorized that people make contracts amongst themselves to create a government to protect their natural rights. As seen in the Declaration of Independence, John Locke's theories like the assertion of natural Rights and its base being on the consent of the people to be governed appear. -
The English Bill of Rights
The Magna Carta still left power struggles between the Monarchy and Parliament; of which, led to the creation of the English Bill of Rights. Some of the main points were, "Monarchs not having complete authority but instead rule with Parliament, suspension of laws, levying taxes, and maintaining an army would need Parliament's consent, and more. This English Bill of Rights didn't affect the American Colonies, thus causing issues as the Colonies believed they should have the same rights as Britain -
Coronation of King George III
King George III was crowned King and took over Great Britain, along with the American Colonies. He affected the colonists in America in many ways: larger taxes, lesser rights compared to people in Great Britain, and went to war after the Americas claimed independence. Other unequal treatment like trail by jury were also denied, as the King had many Great Britain soldiers, judges, and governors keeping control. -
Thomas Hobbes' Social Contract Theory
Thomas Hobbes' is known for his theory called the "social contract theory." This theory justifies that obedience should be given to an empowered person(s). Such would be someone who is protected but offers up everything in exchange regarding political issues. Of which, the American people did not want to be completely ruled or surrender their political power to one empowered sovereign person(s). -
William Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England
William Blackstone' the Commentaries of the Laws of England was a influence for English law. Mostly it unified and rationalized the system of common England law. One of the common laws from the CLE was chosen to be the base for the American legal system. Such like, "no human law has any moral validity or force against a natural law, and that no human law can affect the content of a natural right as such" or rather natural Rights triumph over human laws. -
American Revolutionary War(Start)
After a attempt to stop some Americans and a shot was fired from one of two sides, the British soldiers and American minute men went to battle with them. Due to escalated events, war was essentially inevitable. Some additional issues that caused the war were: the British Taxation Acts, the Boston Massacre. All of these reasons were infractions to the Americas, as they had no say in the British imposing them. -
Declaration of Independence
Obviously as the name implies, this was a separation document from Great Britain. Additionally, it also explained the reasons as for why the American colonies were leaving. Many of these reasons reflected on the treatment they were being given from the British and King George III. Like unfair taxation, British occupancy, non-jury trials, and the battles that had broken out and death caused by British soldiers. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation created a sovereign, national government. However, it also gave power to the states to also govern themselves. However, these articles had some weaknesses; the states had way too much power. Many of these weaknesses were: national government couldn't levy taxes, regulate commerce, had a very weak central government, and more. -
Ratifying the Constitution
The Ratification of the Constitution fixed many of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. Including some like: Congress could levy taxes on individuals, federal court systems, Congress could regulate commerce, and 2/3 of the houses of Congress had to vote on legislatures compare to 100%, and more corrections. The document was made after two groups agreed, the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists, who came up with the ideas for the Constitution and mixed the ideas and so it was passed.
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