Uncaught ReferenceError: $ is not defined error in jQuery

Change the order you're including your scripts (jQuery first):

<script src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.0.0/jquery.min.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="./javascript.js"></script>
<script
    src="http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?key=YOUR_APIKEY&sensor=false">
</script>

Include the jQuery file first:

 <script src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.0.0/jquery.min.js"></script>
 <script type="text/javascript" src="./javascript.js"></script>
    <script
        src="http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?key=AIzaSyCJnj2nWoM86eU8Bq2G4lSNz3udIkZT4YY&sensor=false">
    </script>

Scripts are loaded in the order you have defined them in the HTML.

Therefore if you first load:

<script type="text/javascript" src="./javascript.js"></script>

without loading jQuery first, then $ is not defined.

You need to first load jQuery so that you can use it.

I would also recommend placing your scripts at the bottom of your HTML for performance reasons.

The MVC 5 stock install puts javascript references in the _Layout.cshtml file that is shared in all pages. So the javascript files were below the main content and document.ready function where all my $'s were.

BOTTOM PART OF _Layout.cshtml:

    <div class="container body-content">
        @RenderBody()
        <hr />
        <footer>
            <p>&copy; @DateTime.Now.Year - My ASP.NET Application</p>
        </footer>
    </div>

    @Scripts.Render("~/bundles/jquery")
    @Scripts.Render("~/bundles/bootstrap")
    @RenderSection("scripts", required: false)

</body>
</html>

I moved them above the @RenderBody() and all was fine.

    @Scripts.Render("~/bundles/jquery")
    @Scripts.Render("~/bundles/bootstrap")
    @RenderSection("scripts", required: false)

    <div class="container body-content">
        @RenderBody()
        <hr />
        <footer>
            <p>&copy; @DateTime.Now.Year - My ASP.NET Application</p>
        </footer>
    </div>

</body>
</html>