Events
English Common Law, 1066
English Common
law gave the American
court systems a basis;
previous court case
rulings and laws made
by the English influenced
how the American Judges
would decide cases
and punishments.
We can see how overlapping
English laws (currently) and
American laws are.Magna Carta 1215
Essentially, this document was created
to end unfair, tyrannical rule of Kings
and Queens within European countries.
This had a significant impact on
Enlightenment thinkers, and the
American Revolutionists, who wished
to give the people the power. The
American System of Checks and
Balances is homage to the Magna
Carta document, in a sense.Justinian Code, 529
Justinian created a great interpretation
of the law and justice system.
He wrote out a complex set of laws
and punishments, each varying
in certain degrees. This greatly
influenced modern western laws.
We can see in American law how
complex it is, and how there are
varying laws and punishments.Virgina House of Burgesses, 1619
The House contained elected
representatives to serve in a
legislative assembly, which was
what the American colonists
desperately wanted for government
in the New World.
Relating to current American Law,
the House of Representatives and
Senate are a group of representatives
directly elected by the American
people, and these people decide
on laws in America.Mayflower Compact, 1620
This compact made by colonists
showed a willingness to comply
under a common goal, and to
be held to certain words and
constraints. This was a great
influence on American law and
government, how er make
contracts and how those contracts
are bonded by the law. It also
shows how we can come together
as people and govern for the
benefit of the group.Fundamental Orders of Connecticut 1639
A document made covering the
complex structure of the
Connecticut River towns, and how
they wanted their structure. It is
considered the first written
constitution in the New World.
This obviously would have an impact
on the later constructed US
Constitution, which set up a
government structure and told what
the government could and could
not do.English Bill of Rights 1689
Similar, as we can see, to the
American Bill of Rights, it's clear
that there was some influence.
The English BOR declared that
there were certain things the
King and Queen had the power
to do, and that their power was
limited. It also declared a
separation of government powers,
slightly different from the American government.
In both, we see it as a document
to protect the people.
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