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The Magna Carta ENGLAND - 1215 Magna Carta is Latin for "Great Charter" (literally - “Great Paper”). The Magna Carta was the most significant early influence on our constitutional law today. It guaranteed people a right to trial by jury. It guaranteed basic rights to noble and free citizens in England. Approved by King John. English Bill of Rights ENGLAND -1689 Enacted by English Parliament when William and Mary came into power. It is a famous, basic document of English law (along with the Magna Carta). It is a statement of certain rights that English citizens have. It grants English citizens the right to petition, the right to bear arms for defense, and the right to have a government ruled by the consent of the people. It made the legislature (Parliament) more powerful than the monarchy. Mayflower Compact MASSACHUSETTS - 1620 It was an agreement established by the men who sailed to America aboard the Mayflower. It set forth the idea of self government. Established laws for the benefit of all the people and for the good of the colony. Passengers on the Mayflower knew that earlier New World settlements failed due to a lack of government. The Mayflower Compact was a social contract in which the settlers agreed to follow the rules for the sake of survival. This document said that the government would derive its power from the consent of the governed. Fundamental Orders of Connecticut CONNECTICUT - 1639 The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut is a short document that contains principles that were later used to create the United States government. It says that government is based on the rights of an individual and allows free men to vote. Taken to England by Governor John Winthrop and approved by King Charles II. The colonists viewed the charter as a continuation of their fundamental rights in America. Today, the individual rights in the FOC, with others added over the years, are part of the Declaration of Rights in the first article of Connecticut’s current Constitution, adopted in 1965. Albany Plan of Union USA - 1754 Drafted by Benjamin Franklin. It was a plan to unite the individual colonies and have them work together. Modeled after the Iroquois League. Each colony would send a representative to the Grand Council in Albany and they would govern the colonies. The plan never happened - individual colonies didn’t want to give up any control of their own state. The Olive Branch Petition USA - 1775 Second Continental Congress sent this document to King George III. An “olive branch” is a symbol of peace. This document requested that the King end all conflict with the colonies, repeal the Coercive Acts, and guarantee American liberties. After reading this document, the King considered the colonists in a state of rebellion and he refused any further requests. Declaration of Independence USA - 1776 Adopted on July 4, 1776 This document declared that the US was completely free from Britain and British control. Written mostly by Thomas Jefferson, who based his ideas on John Locke’s theory that if a government doesn’t provide life, liberty and the right to own property, then that government should be overthrown. An enlarged copy of the Declaration is on display in Washington, D.C. John Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence. Articles of Confederation USA - 1777 (ratified in 1781) The first governing document of the United States of America. Adopted by the Second Continental Congress The Federal government could declare war, negotiate treaties, resolve problems in the west, print money and borrow inside and outside the US. The Federal government couldn’t enforce laws or collect taxes; it had to rely on donations from the states. Each state only had 1 vote which bigger states found unfair. They were replaced by the U.S. Constitution on June 21, 1788. Treaty of Paris (there is more than one Treaty of Paris - year is important) PARIS, FRANCE - 1783 This Treaty ended the American Revolutionary War. Terms of the Treaty: Britain keeps Canada England recognizes the 13 colonies as free and independent States. USA gains all territory west to the Mississippi. Gave fishing rights to U.S. fishermen off the coast of Newfoundland and in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence All debts to be paid to creditors on both sides All Prisoners-of-War on both sides are to be released Preamble to the Constitution USA-1787 It is a part of the US Constitution. It is the introduction and explains why the constitution is being written. It outlines the purpose of the Constitution: The purpose is to keep all Americans peaceful, safe, happy and free It includes Americans who would be born after the document was written. US Constitution PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA -1787 AKA - “The Supreme Law of the Land” James Madison was the primary author along with the rest of the Founding Fathers. It replaced the Articles of Confederation. It divides the government into 3 branches. Legislative, Executive, Judicial It has been amended twenty-seven times. 13th Freed slaves 14th Made slaves citizens 15th Gave black males the right to vote 19th Gave women the right to vote 26th allowed 18year olds to vote American Bill of Rights USA -1791 It is actually part of the Constitution. It is the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. (An amendment is a change or addition to a document) It is a formal list of individual citizen’s rights and freedoms. These amendments limit the powers of the federal government, protecting the rights of all citizens, residents and visitors on United States territory. Federalist Papers USA - October 1787-August 1788 The Federalist Papers are a series of 85 articles advocating (promoting) the ratification of the United States Constitution. They appeared in newspapers throughout the U.S. A chance for regular people to understand and support the Constitution. The articles were written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay. Monroe Doctrine USA - 1823 The ideas expressed were originally written by John Q. Adams. It stated that European powers could no longer colonize or interfere with the affairs of the independent nations of the Americas. It stated the US planned to stay neutral in wars between European powers and their colonies. However, if these wars were to occur in the Americas, the US would view such action as hostile toward us. President James Monroe stated the doctrine during his seventh annual State of the Union Address to Congress. This is still a defining document in the foreign policy of the United States. Foreign policy means how we relate to other countries. Northwest Ordinance USA - 1783 (ratified in 1789) Created the Northwest Territory - land north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River. Established the plan by which the United States would expand westward across North America. (Adding more states, not enlarging existing states) Banned slavery in the territory. Out of this land we formed 5 territories (states) - Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana. Indian Removal Act USA - May 1830 President Andrew Jackson called for an Indian Removal Act. White people wanted Indians off land for more farm land. Georgia, the largest state at that time, wanted to push the Cherokee off the land because gold had been discovered. The Removal Act was passed after bitter debate in Congress by one vote. Native Americans were forced to move to Indian Territory (Western lands). The Trail of Tears was the name of the dangerous and deadly journey that the Native Americans had to face. There were elderly and young walking in bare feet on frozen ground with heavy packs enduring rain and snow, rugged terrain, and a lack of food, supplies, and clothing. Missouri Compromise (aka Compromise of 1820) USA - 1820 A series of laws that were drafted to keep the balance of power between the slave states and the free states. It accepted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. It banned slavery North of the 36º 30’ parallel. It was designed to keep peace between the Northern and Southern states. Declaration of Sentiments (and Resolutions) NEW YORK, USA - 1848 Written by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. It was read at the Seneca Falls Convention which was organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The document called for voting rights for all citizens, but it was over 70 years before women got this right. In 1920, the 19th Amendment was passed and women got the right to vote. The Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions took the preamble from the D of I and changed it to: “We hold these truths to be self evident that all men and women are created equal.” Compromise of 1850 USA- 1850 It is a federal law designed to keep the peace between the North and South. Prompted by California wanting to enter the union as a free state. Strengthened the Fugitive Slave Law. It allowed slave owners to reclaim runaway slaves - the strengthening made it a law that all people had to assist in the capture and return runaway slaves. Halted slave trade in the District of Columbia. (Slavery was still permitted in District of Columbia, just not the trading of slaves) Allowed California to enter as a free state. Kansas Nebraska Act USA -1851 This repealed or removed the Missouri Compromise of 1820. Led to violence between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers. Created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, opened new lands for settlement, and allowed the settlers to decide whether or not to have slavery. The act established that settlers could decide for themselves whether to allow slavery, in the name of "popular sovereignty" or people voting. Report to the Massachusetts State Legislature MASSACHUSSETTS, USA - 1843 Written by Dorthea Dix Dix researched conditions in prison and insane asylums in Mass and wrote a report explaining to the government the deplorable conditions inside jails and mental institutions. In mental asylums, patients were put in cages and bound with ropes and chains. Other patients were being put in prison because there wasn’t any other place to put them and in jail they received no medical treatment. She convinced the legislature to appropriate $ to expand mental hospitals and help the insane. A GREAT example of citizen action!!!!! Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World USA - 1829 David Walker, a black male, was born to a free mother and a slave father. He was a free man who spent his life trying to end slavery. He wrote a series of articles titled, Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World. The intent of these was to call to end slavery immediately. Walker used Christian language to show that slavery was a sin. June 18, 1830, Walker died just months after completing the Appeal. Walker’s sudden and mysterious death caused speculation that he was poisoned. A GREAT example of citizen action!!!!! Emancipation Proclamation USA -1863 Abe Lincoln issued this order. It freed all the enslaved people in the rebelling states. This was a symbolic movement. it committed the Union to ending slavery, and invited freed slaves to join the union army. The proclamation did not free slaves in the border states (Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia). The 13th Amendment officially ended slavery in the USA in 1865. Gettysburg Address GETTYSBURG, PA, USA - 1863 A brief speech given by Abe Lincoln to honor fallen Civil War soldiers. It was given at the dedication ceremony for the cemetery in Gettysburg where 3,500 soldiers were buried. The Battle of Gettysburg was the turning point of the Civil War for the Union (North) army. Famous words “and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth.” It was a short speech, but explained the importance of preserving our union.