Ok, you are here so I can assume that you either have a serious interest in theological history, or, that you clicked "here" accidently.

Regardless, I won't keep you long, and you can fly back to the meat of the issue.

The great debate between free will and sovreign election began in Holland in the early 1600's, with a man name Jacob Arminius. Arminius had (indirectly) been a student of the great theologigian and pastor, John Calvin (died 1564)(who along with Marin Luther was one of the most influencial forces of the protestant reformation). He studied under one of John's students Theodore Beza for many years, and later became a professor of theology himself, at the university of Leydon (1603).

Gradually, however, Arminius began to reject certain of the scriptural teachings of John Calvin, mainly ones dealing with God's grace and sovreignty, on the basis of logic and reasoning. This began a huge uproar that spread throughout Holland. He and those who were of the same mind (called Arminians) drew up and brought before the state of Holland their creed, in five articles called: The Five Creeds of the Arminian Remonstrance. (For details of creed & where he stood, see {Deffinitions & The great mystery}

It was then that the fourty-eight membered "Synod of Dort" was held (Nov. 13, 1618 - May 1619) to rule on these five theological points. They composed what is now called the Canons of Dort, which included "The five points of Calvinism".

It is important to note that the five points were not written by Calvinists to summarize their teachings, but rather as a biblical reply and response to the Arminians who chose those five points to oppose.

The five points of Armianianism can be read in Philip Schaff, Creeds of Christendom, vol.3, pp. 545 - 547. The response, the five points of Calvinism, can also be read in Philip Scahff, vol. 3, pp 581 - 596.