Important Historical Documents That Influenced the United States Constitution

Magna Carta Mayflower Compact English Bill of Rights Catos Letters Common Sense Declaration of Independence Articles of Confederation

King John & the Magna Carta Basis of English Law & Government

Magna Carta
Written in:

1215
Written by: Englands Nobility Important government document that is the basis of: English law and government

Big ideas that inlfuenced the US Constitution:

limited government rights rule of law due process

Limited the power of the king of: King John I of England

Protected the rights of the: nobility Trial by jury becomes: law

The Mayflower Compact Our First Government

Mayflower Compact
Written in: 1620, On the Mayflower in the Atlantic Written by: the Puritans who landed to settle in Massachusetts Important agreement between individuals that: created a government that would provide order and protect the colonists

Big ideas that influenced the US Constitution: Self government Rule of law

English Bill of Rights

Written in: 1689, London, England Written by: The English Parliament Important government document that: Expanded the Power of the English Parliament and the rights of people, as well as further limited the power of the king

the

Restricted the power of the monarchy. This was the example for the Declaration of Independence

Big ideas that influenced the US Constitution:

Limited government Rights Due process Rule of Law

Catos Letters
Written in: 1720s Written by: two anonymous journalists in England Collection of newspaper articles that: convinced people to support the freedom of expression and fight against the kings heavy-handed rule

Big ideas that influenced the US Constitution: Rights Rule of Law

Common Sense

Common Sense
Written in: 1776 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Written by: Thomas Paine, a colonial journalist Important pamphlet that: Convinced the American colonists to support independent from Great Britain

becoming

Big ideas that influenced the US Constitution: Self government Rights

Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence
Written: July 4,1776 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Adopted by: The Second Continental Congress

Big ideas that inlfuenced the US Constitution:

Rights Self government

Important government document that: States the reasons for the separation from England Lists the basic human rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

Articles of Confederation

Articles of Confederation
Written: 1771-1781 in Philadelphia,

Pennsylvania

Written by: Continental Congress during the Revolutionary war Important document that gave the Colonies a form of unified government -states were supreme -no executive -weak judicial function

Big ideas that influenced the US Constitution:

First form of government to establish the function of the national government Problems with the Articles resulted in the writing of our current Constitution