Since the beginning of time, religious doctrine has dictated law. The Bible laid out the rules that people are to live by and these rules became law. ... By the end of 1776, British colonial governments collapsed. Revolutionary councils took the place of the crumbling governments and struggled to supply the lack of legitimacy left behind by the former government. ... States were struggling to establish legitimate governments. ...

• Word Count: 1203
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

England enacted laws to create trouble with trade between the colonies and other countries. In 1764, the Sugar Act was issued; this law taxed sugar, textiles, and other goods. ... This meant Congress did not have enough money to run a government or pay its bills. There was no central government in America to impose the taxes, meaning taxes could only be collected with the direct consent of the people and state, and the American government would be in a constant debt. ... This meant that absolutely no central training or uniformed army could be operated by one certain government, but on the con...

• Word Count: 868
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

It was evident that there was a long line of abuse and corruption, where the laws necessary for common good were unable to be set out, because governors were forbidden to do so. People were unable to voice their opinion, for example, one was not able to question the government openly, when taxes increased. Citizens were not part of the decision process and anyone who questioned the government was revoked from power. ... To be interconnected through an ideal government, this would satisfy the needs of all Patriots. Many boycotted decisions made by the king such as obstructing the Administratio...

• Word Count: 524
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Furthermore, they institutionalized systems of local government, and public education . ... The Confederation Government, under the Articles, lacked an executive and judicial branch. ... These farmers pleaded with their state governments for help, but in most cases states refused to interfere, in one case in particular, these angered mobs of farmers rebelled against the government. ... In article 1, section 8, they empowered congress to regulate trade among states, raise revenue through taxation, coin national money, discontinue state coining, and enforce federal laws and treaties . The Consti...

• Word Count: 1074
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The British government of the time favored a policy of mercantilism, although laws such as the Navigation Act were only loosely enforced to regulate commerce in the British interest. ... The government was not getting any respect and when it became apparent that the government was, in the words of George Washington, "little more than the shadow without the substance", the call came for a stronger federal government. ... This list includes such things as the refusal to "assent to laws", endeavors to prevent the "population of these states", obstruction to the administration of justice, the im...

• Word Count: 2128
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The Republicans claimed that assumption was against the ideals of the American Revolution, and that if the assumption law were to pass, the U.S. would become exactly what they had so adamantly fought against during the Revolutionary War. The Federalists, however, countered Madison's concerns by stating that a country can only function with a strong government. ... The states were being asked to place all of their trust into one central government. ... Constitution specifically prohibits Congress from passing a law that abolishes the slave trade and slavery until 1808. ... After the revolu...

• Word Count: 1518
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

They consisted of six acts, among them were, the Boston Port Act, "to discontinue, in such manner, and for or such time as are therein mentioned, the landing and discharging, lading or shipping, of goods, wares, and merchandise, at the town, and within the harbor, of Boston, in the province of Massachusetts Bay, in North America"; the Massachusetts Government Act, "for the better regulating the government of the province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England", the Administration of Justice Act, "for the impartial administration of justice in the case of persons quest...

• Word Count: 1859
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Usually, revolutions come a bout from a radical sect of people would disagree with the status quo and rebel, sometimes very violently, against their government. ... The evil in this law lies in the fact that no evidence of probable cause is necessary to search. ... Another example the conservative political nature of this revolution is the absence of physical violence against government officials. ... Some of the tax burden to raise the funds for the government and soldiers was put on the colonies. ... The British government infringing on the rights and philosophies of their North American...

• Word Count: 1221
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The first of several laws to achieve this was the Proclamation of 1763. ... The edict forbade private citizens and colonial governments to buy land or make agreements with natives compelling the empire to conduct all official relations. In 1764, Britain passed a law known as the Currency Act, preventing the colonies to print and use their own money. ... This made them very unpopular towards the colonists causing many of them to defy laws. ... The representatives sent a letter to England asking that the Stamp Act be repealed however, the British government denied it and instead, imposed more n...

• Word Count: 2404
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

In his view, government was the product of God, the power of government was given by God. ... It saw the state's purpose as to execute God's moral laws, to protect God's faith, and to further of God's truth. God had given a revealed law through scripture and enjoined his creatures to live the lives of virtue and morality. ... In his view, the liberal state led to the changes in the ideas about the laws. For Locke and the American founders, providing laws was the best way to protect the civil rights. ...

• Word Count: 924
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Prior to the Revolution, American colonists were upset with the growing tensions between the British rulers and government, and the American colonists, which led to changes being brought about in American becoming a more independent society, as well as governmental reforms being put into place changing the governmental system from an absolute monarchy to a more democratic government, which led to lasting effects which can be seen in the values of the American society today. ... There were many radicals in the American colonies who wanted a new system of government. ... The people started wa...

• Word Count: 946
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Another weakness of the Articles of Confederation were that there was no way for it to enforce national laws due to a lack of a national court system. This made it so that each individual state court could interpret national laws any which way that they wanted to . this made it extremely difficult to get each state to abide by what was intended in the laws. ... However, the greatest weakness that the Articles had, and which was partly due to the fact of the average Americans fear of the government gaining too much power, was the lack of a Chief executive and centralized government. ... This d...

• Word Count: 616
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Many accusations were leveled at the British government, and in particular, it's head, King George III, among them being; "cutting off [America's] Trade with all parts of the world, imposing Taxes on [the colonies] without [their] Consent, taking away [the colonies"] Charters, abolishing [their] most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of [their] Governments, suspending [their] own Legislatures, and declaring themselves (England) invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever." But perhaps the most important of these accusations and that which is ...

• Word Count: 1820
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Revolutions have many characteristics in common to reform their government or way of life. ... The French were also having government troubles. ... The third estate found this unfair because the first and second estates teamed up and voted together when passing laws. ... Both led to new forms of government, abolishment of the monarchy, and a written constitution. Although neither chose the same the same type of government and were similar in their results. ...

• Word Count: 576
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Officers of the government sent to the colonies were often bribe-taking politicians that were not smart enough to hold government positions in England. ... The Americans believed Lord Grenville and Parliament had "no more right to make laws concerning them than it did to tax them" (Blum 96). ... The Declaratory Act gave the English government total power to pass laws which would govern the colonies. ... It also gave the Roman Catholics in that province religious liberty and the double protection of French and English law. ... Laws and policies enacted were self-serving, causing the colonists t...

• Word Count: 1327
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

In the Second Treatise of Civil Government written in 1689 by John Locke, Locke implies that individuals' personality and possessions is free if they are within the law of nature and not bounded by others individuals like Britishers. Locke states that individuals should fight for their freedom if the government is misusing their rights. ... He believes that laws would be submitted in favor and profit of Britishers. ... Many laws like cutting off trade with other parts of the world, imposing taxes without consent of colonies, creating commotion in towns and many more. ... Locke's Seco...

• Word Count: 545
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Articles of Confederation It would have been very difficult to run an effective government under the Articles of Confederation. ... With the implement of the Constitution, the United States government became effective. ... It could not regulate commerce, so what resulted was thirteen colonies with different taxations and tariff laws. ... It ensured that no one section of government could grow so powerful to the point that it could be considered a Parliament through the Checks and Balances. It promoted unity in that Congress would now regulate all interstate and foreign commerce; this eliminate...

• Word Count: 467
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Otis argued that every man lived in a state of nature and was subjected to laws "engraved in his hearts."" ... Patrick Henry was a superb example of a patriotic orator, educated by the College of William and Mary and apprenticed in the law. ... Furthermore, his background in law led to various interpretations of British legislations, notably contributing to his courtroom title of "Treason."" ... Subsequently, Hancock led to the post war effort in developing the republican government in the United States. ... During this phase of American history, the Red Coats of the Royal Crown of E...

• Word Count: 2505
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Officers of the government sent to the colonies were often bribe-taking politicians that were not smart enough to hold government positions in England. ... For the next twelve years, despite the opposition of abler men, he remained at the head of the government(Blum 104)." ... The Declaratory Act gave the English government total power to pass laws to govern the colonies. ... The Massachusetts Government Act said that the Governor's council had to be appointed by the King and limited town meetings to one per year. ... Laws and policies enacted were self-serving, causing the colonists to v...

• Word Count: 1379
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

This is important to the years to come because it involved people to get involved in their government instead of being overpowered by the government. ... Teachers and Lawyers both grew up on farms and the chance to teach and to practice law came as a kind of deliverance (109). ... John Ball studied law and made books of his travels (60). ... For example one part of her thesis is that new jobs were brought about, like law. John Ball was studying law and so this agrees with Appleby. ...

• Word Count: 1352
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The idea that government was not all-powerful first appeared in the Magna Carta, which King John was forced to sign in 1215. Under the Magna Carta, the principle of limited government was established, stating that the power of the monarch, or government was limited and not absolute. Like the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence which would be drafted later on, this document provided for the protection against unjust punishment and the loss of life, liberty, and property except according to law. ... All three documents were written because the people were unsatisfied with the...

• Word Count: 700
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The aim was to shift the authority of issuing basic human rights from the Church to the state government. ... The big change was that governments should serve the people and not the other way around. ... Separation of Government and Religion In 1791, the National Assembly brought forward a new constitution. ... Secularism spread to other countries and most of today's Western countries have democratic, secular governments. ... Equality meant the absence of all elements of feudalism, including serfdom and the privileges of the clergy and the nobility, and equality before the law. ...

• Word Count: 955
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

In 1756 Henry married Sarah Shelton, later that year he also turned his hand to law. ... His resolve was that only Colonial legislators could pass taxation laws and acts upon the colonies. This resolution forced other colonies to think hard about their stance towards the British government and opinions of it. ... His father was a judicial officer and as such would have had a strong influence on his views and opinions of the British government. Also, being from the south of America, Virginia, he would have seen the hardships farmers faced which were not aided by the British government. ...

• Word Count: 871
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Colonists taunted the enforcers of the laws, causing several British officers to fire into a taunting crowd of colonists. ... Britain now wanted to punish Boston for its behavior, so it issued the Intolerable Acts (Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Government Act, Administration of Justice Act, and quartering was enforced). ... In Massachusetts, their meetings in Boston were banned (Massachusetts Government Act). ... Also, there were so many different religions in America that it was uncomfortable to have Anglicans enforcing the law. ...

• Word Count: 416
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

He had the time and the resources to educate himself in many topics including history, literature, law, architecture, science, and philosophy. ... This principle has continued to be significant to the United States because it gives every citizen the right to question the government and to actually do something about it. ... Then, by the end of 1776, independent governments were functioning in every state except Georgia and New York. Each new state government had three branches: an executive branch, a legislature, and a court system. Most state constitutions guaranteed certain inalien...

• Word Count: 804
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate