Document
Author
VA
Charters
King
James
VA Dec.
Of Rights
George
Mason
Date
1606
1776
Thomas
Dec. of
Independence Jefferson
Why Written?
Rights of Englishmen
Guaranteed to the colonists
Granted people of VA
liberties & freedoms
How did it influence the Constitution?
Created a group assembly
To make laws
Served as a model for the Bill
of Rights
-Stated grievances against
-Unalienable Rights (life, liberty &
King
pursuit of happiness)
1776
- Independence from England - All people equal under the law
The weaknesses of the Articles
Second
1777
Articles of
-To
establish
a
new
gov’t
Lead to the writing of the
(Ratified
Confederation Continental
In the United States
Congress 1781)
Constitution
VA Statute
Natural rights to free
Thomas 1786
Freedom of religious beliefs and
of Religious
opinion and free practice
Jefferson
opinions (1st amendment)
Freedom
of religion in Virginia
James
Constitution Madison
(main author)
1787
Fixed the Articles of
Confederation and created
a stronger national gov’t