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Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta is an English document first passed into law in 1225. When people learned to read the bible, they learned that the monarch had been lied to them. It included the most direct challanges to the monarch's authority. -
The Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was the first governing document of the Plymouth Community. It was signed on November 11,1620 by 41 of the colonists who later became known as Pilgrims. -
English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of rights was passed by congress on December 16, 1689. It states the limits of Parliment and the rights of the Colonists. -
Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was a cultural movement originating anywhere from 1650-1700. It's goal was to mobilize the power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge. The center of the movement was in France. -
Two Treatises of Government
The Two Treatises of Government was published by Thomas Paine in 1689. It outlines the role of the monarchies. -
Spirit of Laws
The Spirit of Laws is a treatise and political theory published anonyomously by Montesqiueu in 1748. -
The Social Contract
The Social Contract was written by Jean Jacques Rosseau. The stated goal was to see if there could be a legitimate political autority. -
State of Nature
The Stae of Nature is baisiclly the condition before the states formation, or time before positive ruling. The idea was part of a classical republicanism. -
Articles of Confederation
The articles of Confederation was the first plan for a government for the United States of America. It was drafted in 1776 and became the Constitution. After several years of debate, it was revised and became the Constitution that we use to this day. -
Common Sense
Common Sense is a phamplet written by Thomas Paine during the American Revolution. It was first published anonymously on January 10, 1776, and became an imediate success. It had the largest sale and cirrculation in history at the time. -
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegats from the thirteen colonies. It met from 1774 to 1789. Durong that time period, the Declaration of Independance was wrote and passed into law. -
Natural Rights
During the Age of Enlightenment, the natural law theory came into play. It led to the establishment of the Social Contract, positive law, and... Government.
