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1215
Established principle of "limited government."
Limited King's power by forbidding him from taxing without consent. Gave rights to free men, including trial by one's peers and the right to revolt if the King broke his part of the agreement. |
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1620
Written agreement that established a direct democracy in colonial America.
After a group of Pilgrims were blown off course, they landed in Massachusetts instead of Virginia. The men onboard the ship all agreed to form a government and to obey the laws that the government made. |
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1588-1679
People are selfish and bad.
People agree to be ruled because their ruler pledges to protect their rights. |
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1632-1704
Wrote Two Treatises of Government.
All people are born equal and have natural rights.
People have a "social contract" with the government. If the government fails to protect the people's rights, the people can choose new leaders. |
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1689
Established that English citizens had rights that no king could violate.
Rights included no taxes without consent, fair trials, freedom of speech, no loss of property or imprisonment without due process, and others. |
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1689-1755
"Separation of powers"
Power should be broken into different branches so that no one branch becomes too powerful and threaten people's rights. |
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1694-1778
People have the right to speak freely, and everyone should defend this right.
Supported freedom of religion and trade. |
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1712-1778
Legislative power belongs to the people. |
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1764
First indirect tax on colonists to try to pay for French and Indian War.
Taxed sugar, coffee, indigo, and certain types of wine. |
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1765
First direct tax on colonists by England. For previous 100 years, only colonial legislatures had taxed colonists.
Required a tax on legal documents, newspapers, licenses, and other publications.
Colonists protested and even rioted. Repealed by Parliament in 1766, but the Declaratory Act was passed the same day. |
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1767
Taxed glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea. Also allowed general search warrants to prevent colonists from smuggling.
Colonists responded with boycotts and protests.
Repealed in 1770, except for tax on tea. |
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1773
Not actually a tax, but required colonists to buy tea from the British East India Company.
Led to the Boston Tea Party. |
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December 1773
Angry colonists dressed as Native Americans boarded British ships and threw 342 chests of tea (about a year's supply) into the Boston Harbor.
Led to the Coercive Acts. |
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Coercive Acts
aka
Intolerable Acts |
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1774
Meant to punish Massachusetts for Boston Tea Party.
Consisted of the Boston Port Act; Massachusetts Government Act; Quartering Act; Impartial Administration of Justice Act; and Quebec Act.
Very harsh. Led to colonists meeting at the First Continental Congress. |
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January 1776
Published by Thomas Paine.
Argued that the colonies should break up with England because of the King's abuse of power. First time anyone argued that the people should govern themselves. |
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| Declaration of Independence |
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Definition
July 4, 1776
Written by Thomas Jefferson during Second Continental Congress.
Inspired by John Locke's view on "social contract."
Stated what a good government should do, stated why England and the King were bad governments, and stated that the United States of America were now independent from England. |
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