The Law & Liberty Timeline
The Supreme Court ruled that the Bill of Rights does not apply to the states because the Federal government does not have jurisdiction. “[the Constitution was created] by the people of the United States…not for the government of the individual states.” –Decision written by Chief Justice John Marshall, 1833. This was the law of the
Barron v. Baltimore Read More »
The 1689 English Bill of Rights was a precursor to our Bill of Rights and is referred to in our law. For example, it is referred to in Scalia’s Heller opinion. The bill outlined specific constitutional and civil rights and ultimately gave Parliament power over the monarchy. The monarchy cannot rule without consent of the
English Bill of Rights Read More »
The Constitution is a merger uniting the original 13 states with different cultures and laws. Under America’s first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, the states acted together only for specific purposes. The final Constitution of 1887 united all the states as members of a whole, vesting the power of the people in a Federal government.
The Constitution of the United States Read More »
The Declaration of Independence expresses the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for separation from Great Britain. The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (among others). People have a say in their government.
Declaration of Independence Read More »
The Mayflower Compact set out rules for self-governance for the English settlers who traveled to Colonial America aboard the Mayflower ship in 1620. Of the 102 passengers aboard the Mayflower only 41 were Pilgrims. It was this minority body that established the rules for which they tried to force on all. The majority of passengers
Great ideas become more than philosophy when people build institutions that test them in real life.
Patent for Providence Plantations, Roger Williams Read More »
Less than two years after the original Magna Carta, the core of the Magna Carta was reissued in “The First Great Charter of King Henry the Third”, granted November 12, 1216–the first year of his reign. This was the first time the Magna Carta was willingly signed by a King. And, King Henry III created
The First Great Charter of King Henry III Read More »
The Magna Carta in 1215 established the following principles: everyone is subject to the law, even the King, individuals have rights, everyone has the right to justice, and everyone has the right to a fair trial. The Magna Carta recognized individual responsibility in all, including the King, and it established that the law “should” be
Roger Williams argued that government should protect freedom of conscience, not enforce religious belief. Separating church and state protects citizens from persecution while also protecting religion from political corruption.
Book: The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution Read More »
In July 1663, King Charles II granted a Royal Charter to the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations uniting Providence, Warwick, Newport and Portsmouth. It became the State of Rhode Island after the Revolutionary War. John Clarke, who stayed behind after Roger returned in 1654, worked hard and deserves much of the credit.
Founder, Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Read More »
