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 (lawmaking body) the power to
make decisions
– Parliament
– House of Burgesses
– Congress
• Significance: sets the stage for
the colonists to believe in selfgovernment and limited
government (our president has
to follow the laws)
video
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
video
• Social contract
• Agree to form an orderly society in Plymouth
(Massachusetts) based on self-government
• Significance: American legacy of democracy
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
rap
video
Schoolhouse Rock
Articles of Confederation
video
• 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
Constitution
video
• Written in 1787 in Philadelphia by James Madison
• Plan of government
video
– 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
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 Connecticut
B. Magna Carta
C. Constitution
D. Anti-Federalist Papers
Quiz
2. Mercy Otis Warren and Patrick Henry likely
supported which document?
A. English Bill of Rights
B. Federalist Papers
C. Anti-Federalist Papers
D. Mayflower Compact
Quiz
3. What did George Mason want to be added to
the Constitution when it was first written in
1787?
A. Unalienable rights
B. Federalism
C. Preamble
D. Bill of Rights
Quiz
4. What was the first written constitution (plan
of government) in North America?
A. Magna Carta
B. English Bill of Rights
C. Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
D. 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 Rights
B. Declaration of Independence
C. Constitution
D. Articles of Confederation
Quiz
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 Independence
B. the Mayflower Compact.
C. the Magna Carta.
D. the Constitution.
Quiz
8. “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 Constitution
B. the Bill of Rights
C. the Articles of Confederation
D. 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 Constitution
B. the Bill of Rights
C. the Articles of Confederation
D. the Declaration of Independence
Quiz
10. Which document argued for the ratification
of the Constitution?
A. Federalist Papers
B. Anti-Federalist Papers
C. Articles of Confederation
D. Declaration of Independence
Extra Resources
• Quizlet
• http://quizlet.com/903333/staar-documentsacts-books-flash-cards/