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1500 BCE
1. Moses
Moses got the Ten Commandments from god including not to kill and steal. -
600 BCE
2. Old Testament
The Christian laws of nature and the relationship between god and people, government and people. -
100
3. New Testament
Continuation of the new covenant relationship between people and government. -
1215
4. The Magna Carta
A document was forcefully signed by King John, recognizing their rights. -
5. The Mayflower Compact
The Pilgrims governed themselves by a written contract between themselves. -
6. The Constitution of Connecticut
The Constitution of Connecticut had a huge influence on the Founders of America. -
7. English Bill of Rights
In 1689, Parliament passed the English Bill of Rights that put clear limits on the monarchy. -
8. House of Lords
The members of the upper chamber were the first sons of noble families and later members who inherited their positions. -
9. House of Commons
The members of the lower chamber were elected and were often the younger sons of noble families or wealthy commoners. -
10. The Enlightenment
An intellectual movement concentrated in France, sought to apply the rights of scientific inquiry to study human society. -
11. English Common Law
Custom, usages, and general principles found in court decisions that serve as precedents to be applied to situations not covered by statutory law. -
12. The Thirteen English Colonies
Colonial institutions exercise some local authority, colonial governments established practices that later became a key part of the nations system of government. -
13. The French and Indian War
A war between the French and British over lands in what is now western Pennsylvania and Ohio. -
14. The Stamp Act
Imposed the first direct tax on the colonists requiring them to pay a tax of legal documents, pamphlets and even playing cards. -
15. The Boston Tea Party
A group of colonists, dressed as Mohawk Indians dumped 342 chests of British tea into Boston Harbor. -
16. The First Continental Congress
A meeting of delegates from 12 of the 13 British colonies, deciding what to do about the relationship with Great Britain. -
17. The Second Continental Congress
Delegates from all thirteen colonies gathered, immediately assuming powers of a central government. -
18. The Declaration of Independence
A formal statement written by Thomas Jefferson declaring the freedom of the thirteen American colonies from Great Britain. -
19. The Articles Of Confederation
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. -
20. The Constitution Of The United States
The Constitutional Convention began the daunting task of crafting a new system of government.
