American Government: We are a democratic, federal republic with a presidential system based on separation of power, a written constitution and bill of rights.

Historical background:

Christopher Columbus discovers America on behalf of the Spanish 
    monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, in 1492

Queen Elizabeth I, last of the Tudor monarchs, dies in 1603

James I of the Stuart Dynasty rules 1603 - 1625

Jamestown, Virginia, 1607

Plymouth, Massachusetts 1620

Charles I, 1625 - January 30, 1649:  beheaded

Long Parliament:  1640 - 1660

Civil War:  1640 - 1649

The Commonwealth and Protectorate Period of Oliver Cromwell

Restoration of the Stuart Monarchy under Charles II 1660 - 1685

James II:  1685 - 1688

Glorious Revolution:  1688 - 1689

William II and Mary III

Thirteen British North American colonies are established

French and Indian Wars end:  1763

Prelude to the American Revolution:  1763 - 1775

American Revolutionary War:  1775 - 1781

    Declaration of Independence:  July 4, 1776

    Battle of Saratoga 1777

    Battle of Yorktown 1781

Peace of Paris:  1783

The Legacy of British Institutions: Common Law tradition; Tudor Monarchy; Struggle Between King and Parliament during the 17th century; Catholics, Anglicans, Puritans, and other Dissenters; ideas of written covenants; outposts of a far-flung naval empire; capitalistic trade and commerce; slavery.

The Puritan Commonwealth in Massachusetts;

Virginia Plantation Society;

Mid-Atlantic colonies based on commerce and trade;

The Legacy of the Enlightenment. Natural Rights are not Natural Law. Born free: no serfs or feudal lords.

Periods of United States History:

1763 - 1775 The Making of the American Revolution

1775 - 1783 The American Revolution

1775 - 1789 Continental Congress and the Articles of Confederation. Transforming Colonies into States.

1787 - 1789 The Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia and Ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

1789 - 1861 The Agrarian Republic

1861 - 1865 The Civil War

1865 - 1876 Reconstruction

1876 - 1932 The Imperial Republic

1932 - The Welfare State

The Constitution of the United States of America

Unitary, Confederation, and Federal Systems

Articles of Confederation adopted by 13 States in 1781

Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia:  Summer 1787

The Original Constitution (7 Articles) goes into effect 1789

27 Amendments

    Bill of Rights are first ten Amendments. Ratified 1791

Principles of American Government