Historical Documents that Influenced American Government _ to the

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Historical Documents that Influenced American Government

Charters of the Virginia Company of London (1606)

Guaranteed the rights of _ Englishmen _ to the colonists

Declaration of Independence (1776)

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Stated _ grievances _ (complaints) against the King of __ Great Britain ___

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Declared the _colonies’_ independence from

_ Great Britain _

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Affirmed “certain _ unalienable __ rights” (rights that cannot be taken away) which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

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.

Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776)

Served as a model for the _ Bill of Rights _ of the Constitution of the United States of

America

The Articles of Confederation (1777)

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Established the structure of the first form of national __ government __ for the _ independent _ states

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Maintained that the major _ powers _ resided with

(were the responsibilities of) the individual

__ states __

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Created weak _ central _ government o No power to __ tax _ or _ enforce _ laws

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Weaknesses led to the writing of the Constitution of the United States of America Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (1786)

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Provides for freedom of _ religious beliefs _ and _ opinions _

The United States Constitution (1787) and the Bill of Rights (1791)

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Establishes the structure of the _United States government_

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Guarantees __equality_ under the law with _majority rule_ (most votes wins) and the rights of the

_minority_ (a group differing from the majority) protected

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Affirms individual worth and dignity of _ALL_ people

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Protects the fundamental _freedoms_ of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.

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