Magna Carta document that protected noble’s privileges & authority -granted equal treatment under the law & trial by jury to all English citizens -contract that limited the power of the monarch by saying no one is above the law Glorious Revolution- -Parliament removed King James II because he wasn’t working with them -This showed that Parliament was stronger than the monarch.
-Created the English Bill of Rights which said that the king could not: suspend laws, create special courts, impose taxes, or raise an army. Also granted Parliament would be freely elected, freedom of speech, fair jury trial, & outlawed cruel & unusual punishment. Jamestown st permanent English settlement in North America -created House of Burgesses -marked the beginning of self-government in America
Stamp Act- -tax that required colonists to put stamps on all newspapers and legal documents -helped pay for French & Indian War -angered colonists -boycotted British goods in protest -slogan: “No taxation without representation” Townshend Acts- -tax on basic items: glass, tea, paper, & lead -colonists boycotted British goods again
Tea Act- -allowed British East India Company to ship tea to the colonies without paying tax. -colonists dressed as Native Americans dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor- Boston Tea Party Intolerable Acts- -restricted colonists rights including the right to trial by jury -allowed British soldiers to search & move into colonists homes
Common Sense- -pamphlet written by Thomas Paine -convinced many colonists to call for independence -said it was common sense to stop following King George III Declaration of Independence- July 4, written mostly by Thomas Jefferson -based on John Locke’s social contract theory
Articles of Confederation- -1 st government of the U.S. -weaknesses: 1. Could not tax 2. Could not enforce laws 3. Very weak national government 4. No single leader in charge