Important Documents

Magna Carta• English document written in 1215• Limits the power of the king by

making him follow the laws• Right to trial by jury• Gives the legislatures (law-making

body) the power to make decisions– Parliament– House of Burgesses– Congress

• Significance: sets the stage for the colonists to believe in self-government and limited government (our president has to follow the laws)

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English Bill of Rights

• English document signed in 1689 by William and Mary that guarantees basic rights to citizens

• Lists freedom to/of– Have trial by jury– Speech– Redress government– Bear arms– From royal interference

with the law

• Significance: influences Bill of Rights

Mayflower Compact• Written by the Pilgrims in 1620• Social contract• Agree to form an orderly society in Plymouth

(Massachusetts) based on self-government• Significance: American legacy of democracy

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Fundamental Orders of Connecticut• Written by Thomas Hooker in 1639• Significance: First written constitution in

America• List of laws

Declaration of Independence

• Written on July 4, 1776 by Thomas Jefferson

• Asserts that the Americans are a free and independent nation

• Lists colonial grievances against the king

• John Locke: unalienable rights and idea that government comes from the people

• Grievances are addressed in the Bill of Rights

videoSchoolhouse Rock

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Articles of Confederation

• Nov 1777: loose plan of government for the new nation

• Weak because– There is no executive (president) or judicial

branches– Congress can’t regulate trade, impose taxes, or

force citizens to join the army– Each state gets one vote in Congress

• Shays’s Rebellion exposes its failure, so the framers write the Constitution

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Constitution• Written in 1787 in Philadelphia by James Madison• Plan of government

– Three branches of government– Strong federal government

• Great Compromise– Settles Virginia/New Jersey Plans– Number of representatives each state gets is proportional to

population (large states like this)– Number of senators each state gets is two (small states like this)

• 3/5ths Compromise– Slaves counted as three-fifths of a person to count population

• Bill of Rights?– George Mason wants this– Added in 1791

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Constitution Preamble

Federalist Papers• Written by Alexander

Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison

• In support of the ratification of the Constitution (strong federal government)

Anti-Federalist Papers

• Written as a reaction to the Federalist Papers • Opposed to the ratification of the Constitution– Argue for states’ rights– Fear a strong federal government– Fear the president becoming a king– Want a Bill of Rights

• Mercy Otis Warren, George Mason, Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry

Quiz

1. It is illegal for the King of England to unfairly jail an English citizen. This idea is explained in

A. the Fundamental Orders of ConnecticutB. Magna CartaC. ConstitutionD. Anti-Federalist Papers

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2. Mercy Otis Warren and Patrick Henry likely supported which document?

A. English Bill of RightsB. Federalist PapersC. Anti-Federalist PapersD. Mayflower Compact

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3. What did George Mason want to be added to the Constitution when it was first written in 1787?

A. Unalienable rightsB. FederalismC. PreambleD. Bill of Rights

Quiz

4. What was the first written constitution (plan of government) in North America?

A. Magna CartaB. English Bill of RightsC. Fundamental Orders of ConnecticutD. Declaration of Independence

Quiz

5. Many ideas in the Bill of Rights, such as the right to bear arms, were first established in the

A. English Bill of RightsB. Declaration of IndependenceC. ConstitutionD. Articles of Confederation

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6. Under the Articles of Confederation,A. a strong national government was

established.B. a bill of rights was included.C. powers given to the legislative branch

were limited.D. a president was elected every two years.

Quiz

7. The Pilgrims and Puritans created a society based on religious ideals. They agreed that behaviors, such as committing adultery would not be tolerated. They were able to do this as a result of

A. the Declaration of IndependenceB. the Mayflower Compact.C. the Magna Carta.D. the Constitution.

Quiz8. “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” This quote comes from

A. the ConstitutionB. the Bill of RightsC. the Articles of ConfederationD. the Declaration of Independence

Quiz

9. Which document describes the roles of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government in the United States?

A. the ConstitutionB. the Bill of RightsC. the Articles of ConfederationD. the Declaration of Independence

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10. Which document argued for the ratification of the Constitution?

A. Federalist PapersB. Anti-Federalist PapersC. Articles of ConfederationD. Declaration of Independence

Extra Resources

• Quizlet• http://quizlet.com/903333/staar-documents-a

cts-books-flash-cards/