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Magna Carta (1215) Early in its history, the Magna Carta—Latin for “Great Charter”—became a symbol of the battle against tyranny. Signed by King John in 1215, its ideas inspired angry American colonists 561 years later. Throughout his reign, King John was at war with the French over Britain’s land in western France. Time and again, he suffered defeat. The wars were expensive, and Britain lost the income that had come from the land in France. As a result, King John demanded more and more money from his barons (nobles) to pay for the war and to make up the lost income. To do so, he collected a variety of taxes or fees. Over time, King John became more and more desperate for money. Traditionally, the king was required to treat his barons and other subjects with fairness and respect. However, King John grew greedy and cruel in his dealings. He abused his power. Finally, the barons, along with churchmen and townspeople, united against King John. In January of 1215, the leading barons wrote down their complaints against the king. A document was drawn up demanding that the king respect the traditional rights of his subjects. The document also put limits on the king’s power. This first document was called the “Articles of Barons.” King John met with the barons. He was faced with the threat of civil war if he did not sign the Articles. King John put his seal on the Articles of Barons on June 15, 1215. A formal document—the Magna Carta—was drafted in the following days. Copies were made and sent out to county sheriffs and bishops to be read to the people. Nearly six centuries later, in 1776, America’s Founders prepared to challenge King George III and the English Parliament. It was the Magna Carta that they looked to when writing the Declaration of Independence.
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (16391662) The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut was inspired by Thomas Hooker and adopted by the settlers of the Connecticut River towns. In addition to outlining guidelines for paying taxes and representation, the document called for the election of a governor and six officers, who held lawmaking, judicial powers(holding trials). The primary goal of the Fundamental Orders was the wellbeing of the community.Like the Mayflower Compact, it was based on the ideas of democracy, or government by the people. The Connecticut colonists, like the Pilgrims, believed that people had the right to make decisions about their government as well as their religion. Called by some the first written constitution, it led to Connecticut’s nickname—The Constitution State.
English Bill of Rights (1689)
A key document in the history of democracy, the English Bill of Rights was enacted in 1689. This document restricted the monarch’s (king’s) power. It also guaranteed free elections to Parliament (England’s legislature), the right to a fair trial, and the elimination of cruel and unusual punishments.United States Bill of Rights was modeled after the English Bill of Rights.
The Mayflower Compact (1620)
The Mayflower Compact was signed by 41 English colonists on the ship Mayflower. The
compact (agreement) was drafted to prevent disagreements amongst Puritans and Pilgrims
who had landed at Plymouth a few days earlier.
When the Mayflower arrived at Cape Cod, several hundred miles north of its planned
destination in Virginia owing to storms at sea, the passengers realized they were outside the
bounds of the governmental authority they had contracted with in England.
William Bradford, the Pilgrim leader, was alarmed to learn that some of the others felt no
obligation to respect the rules of the Pilgrims. The male heads of the families therefore drew up
a compact (agreement) that bound all signers to accept whatever form of government was
established after landing. Every adult male had to sign the agreement before going ashore.
The compact remained in effect until Plymouth was incorporated into the Massachusetts Bay
Colony in 1691.
http://www.history.com/topics/mayflowercompact
Virginia House of Burgesses
The first legislature (group of people to make laws) to be
established in the American colonies was in Virginia. It was
called the House of Burgesses, it held its first meeting on July
30, 1619. The main order of business was to set a minimum
price for selling tobacco. In time, the House of Burgesses
became a symbol of representative government in America. It
could make laws, which could in turn be vetoed (canceled) by
a governor or the directors of the Virginia Company. Each
Virginia settlement was entitled to elect two burgesses
(representatives) to the legislature. This legislature became
the first representative assembly in America.