-
Period: Jan 1, 1200 to
Constitution Years
-
Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta
This document means "Great Charter" in Latin, The nobles rled aainst King John because he treated them harshly. They forced him to sign this document that limited his power. It also gave protection over the nobles' privileges & authority & allowed certain rights to all landholders. The purpsose of this was "That no monarch would be above the law." This is similar to our government because our president isn't above the law. -
Mayflower Compact
A compact or agreement among people. Pilgrims realized they needed rules to govern themselves. They drew up this written plan for government. This was before they even reached land. This compact established a tradition of direct democracy. -
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
Number of Pilgrims were being persecuted for religious beliefs, left, & came up with this document. Pilgrims left Massachusetts & created his when they left. This is America's first written constitution. This is where there are elected reps & popular election of a governing & judges. We elect reps to vote on what we want for the country. -
Glorious Revolution
During this time, there was a peaceful transfer of power. Paliament removed Kig James II & replaced him with his daughter, Mary, & her husband. This is like our peaceful transfers of power during the presidental elections.
This event showed that no monarch or ruler has power above the Parliament, for the US it's similar but it's no power above the Congress. -
English Bill of Rights
This guarenteed free elections to Parliament, the right to a fair trial, & theelimination of cruel & unusual punishments. This document restricted the monarch's power. The Parliament drew this document up. This relates to the US guarenteeing free elections to Congress & it limits the power of the president. -
John Locke
An English write who thought we had certain rights: life, liberty, & property,that no one can take away. He said we were born free, equal, & independent; that we possessed rights called natural rights that the government couldn't take away.
These things apply to everyone in America & we live by this. -
Baron de Montesquieu
A French writer who developed the idea of separation of powers. This meant the power is divided among branches equally. The government uses these different parts to create balance, so no one part became too powerful. We have three branches that are equal to keep balance. -
Jean-JacquesRousseau
A French philospher who wrote in the Socal Contract. "Man is born free, yet everywhere he is found in chains." He argued that people alone had the right to determine how they should be governed. This relates to our government because we determine how we should be governed.
