Timeline of Historic Events Flashcards
1660 Restoration of the Monarch
Charles II invited back by the House of Lords in their “Declaration of Parliament Assembled at Westminster.” The King, supported by the Tories or the Court Party was given royal prerogatives allowing him to act on his own discretion within certain bounds. Corrupted government, threatened liberty, and worldly court.
1649 Commonwealth
Charles I beheaded by the Puritans for abusing his power by creating special courts and taxing in uncommon ways.
Oliver Cromwell made Protectorate. He leads through military control and brought about the long Parliament. Strict, rigid-republican government until 1657-58. English found out that not just kings could abuse power and learned that we need a balance between both the Executive and the Legislative. This was the right kind of government but implemented in the wrong way
The Puritans felt that all men were at least equal in the sight of God and contented with the Divine Right of Kings doctrine.
1688-1689 Glorious Revolution
James II forced to abdicate the throne to his daughter Mary who rules with her husband. William leads out militarily as the male though Mary has right and responsibility of the throne.
Parliamentary supremacy takes hold and a Bill of Rights is formed.
It was considered a “glorious revolution” because there was no bloodshed.
1720-1776 Colonia Era
Great Britain Monarchs and/or Prime Minister regained power in Parliament. After the French and Indian War (1763), moved towards empire, centralized power, public good over liberty, government control over the economy, and arbitrary government over the rule of law is tolerated and accepted.
- Cato Letters (1720-1723)
- Baron Charles Louis de Montesquieu (1689-1755)
- David Hume (1711-1776)
1685 James II
James II, the brother of James I made king. Increased centralization, arbitrary rule, discretion given to unelected officials, military power during peace, Catholicism over Protestantism. Puritans and Protestants moving towards equality and religious liberty after being controlled and suppress by Catholicism in the government.
Fairfax County Resolve (July 18, 1774)
General meeting of the Freeholder and Inhabitants in reaction to the Coercive “intolerable” Acts. General Washington (chair) and Robert Harrison (clerk):
-Called for importation agreement (boycotts)
-Reaffirmed Constitutional Rights
-Solidarity with Massachusetts
-Colonists were a free people
-No laws but by consent
-Representation only possible in America
(Past the point of trying to get into Parliament to be represented, too much distance, too much shenanigans)
-Parliament doesn’t have absolute power
-Great Britain lied about American intentions, broke compacts, dissolved government, violated constitutional rights
-Unwritten traditions and beliefs formed their “Constitution”
-Virginia will support other Colonies
Rights of British America (1774)
Popular sovereignty Right to revolution Right of conquest -Parliament has no power in America King has limited power and role -as protector
Grievances in Colonial America
- 1773 Tea Tax
- 1774 Coercive “Intolerable” Acts
- Revoked Colony Charters and initiated military rule
- Expanded Quartering Act
- Quebec Act
- Considered Rebels “enemies’ by the king
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Turbulent political times (Adams v. Jefferson)
- threat of impeachment in the air of Supreme Court Justices with the rise of Jefferson’s new political party
- the battle of the Judiciary Acts of 1789, 1801, and 1802
Writs of Assistance (1761)
Smuggling became common in the colonies when trade tightened up at the end of the French and Indian War under the navigation Act, the Molasses Act, and the Sugar Act. Writs of Assistance were court orders ordering sheriffs, ect. to assist customs officers in performing unwarranted and vague searches and seizures to shipping companies.
