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Petition of Right
Document prepared by Parliament and signed by King Charles I of England in 1628; challenged the idea of the divine right of kings and declared that even the monarch was subject to the laws of the land. Inspired by the Magna Carta it put restrictions on the kings power forbidding arbitrary taxation, billeting of troops, and the due process clause
Grand Remonstrance
Parliament creates a resolution removing most of the kings power and makes a list of his crimes causing a war between Charles I and the Parliament
English Bill of Rights
King William and Queen Mary accepted this document in 1689. It guaranteed and protected certain natural rights of citizens. By accepting this document, they supported a limited monarchy (instead of absolutism), a system in which they shared their power with Parliament and the people
Common Sense
A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that denounced absolutism and claimed the colonies had a right to be an independent nation, and believed in popular sovereignty. It inspired colonists to take action against Britain to win their freedom
Declaration of Independence
1776 statement, issued by the Second Continental Congress, explaining why the colonies wanted independence from Britain. A social contract for the government where people give gov. power and get protection of their natural rights
The Declaration of Rights of Man and the Citizen
Statement of fundamental political rights adopted by the French National Assembly at the beginning of the French Revolution. Opposed the Divine Right of Kings and believed in a social contract where an elected gov protected people's natural rights
James I
An unpopular king who was thought to be "not protestant enough" and didn't get along with Parliament because the Magna Carta was growing popular and James I choose favorites and strongly believed in the Divine Rights of Kings
Charles I
He needed money to start fund the war so he illegally taxed subjects. Parliament tried to get him to sign documents limiting his power. Charles dismissed Parliament for 11 years until the Bishops War where he is forced to recall Parliament. Fights the English Civil War against Parliament that ends in his defeat. He is captured, put on trial, and executed.
Charles II
A protestant who is invited to be king by Parliament during the Restoration
James II
This was the Catholic king of England after Charles II. He tried to make England a Catholic nation but was rebelled against and forced to flee
Oliver Cromwell
Appointed head of state during the commonwealth after Parliament takes control of the government. Started the Irish War
Thomas Jefferson
Author of the Declaration of Independence & 3rd President of the United States
Thomas Paine
American Revolutionary leader who supported the American colonists fight for independence by writing Common Sense to inspire the colonists (Also wrote The Rights of Man during the French Revolution)
Continental Congress
A body of representatives from the British North American colonies who met to respond to England's Intolerable Acts. They declared independence in July 1776 and later drafted the Articles of Confederation.
George III
King of England during the American Revolution who refuses the Olive Branch Petition (truce) and instead calls the colonists traitors
Natural Rights
Rights that belong to all people from birth (God given rights)
Popular Sovereignty
Power belongs to the people
Absolutism
Total power belongs to the monarch (Monarchs power comes from God)
Social Contract
You give something to the government, you get something in return (often you give gov. power and you get protection of natural rights & liberty)
English Civil War
1642-1649 Parliaments (Roundheads) vs the King (Royalists). Parliament wins and Charles I is captured
Commonwealth
Parliament takes control of the government. Oliver Cromwell is appointed head of state and starts the Irish War.
Restoration
Parliament votes to restore the monarchy and they invite Charles II (who is protestant) to be king
Series of Taxes
As a result of the debt from the war, Britain passed a series of taxes on the colonies
Sugar Act
1764 - tax import of sugar (sugar needed for rum)
Stamp Act
1765 - paper products made in Britain (never collected)
Townshend Acts
1767 - included tea
Boston Massacre
The first bloodshed of the American Revolution (1770), as British guards at the Boston Customs House were provoked by colonists and opened fire on a crowd killing five Americans
Boston Tea Party
A 1773 protest against British taxes in which Boston colonists disguised as Mohawks dumped valuable tea into Boston Harbor.
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