Road to the Constitution KeyRoad to the Constitution KeyBy Emily AdamsonBy Emily Adamson

Magna CartaMagna CartaIn 1215, the nobles ofIn 1215, the nobles of

England decided to write aEngland decided to write adocument assuring that they woulddocument assuring that they wouldhave rights and King John wouldhave rights and King John wouldrespect them. This document wasrespect them. This document wascalled the Magna Carta. The noblescalled the Magna Carta. The noblesfelt compelled to write the Magnafelt compelled to write the MagnaCarta because they believed theyCarta because they believed theywere being overtaxed and the kingwere being overtaxed and the kingwas not respecting their rights. Thewas not respecting their rights. TheMagna Carta was significantMagna Carta was significantbecause it was the first writtenbecause it was the first writtendocument that granted people some document that granted people some rights and it laid the foundation for arights and it laid the foundation for alimited monarchy and legislature.limited monarchy and legislature.

ParliamentParliamentKing Henry III regularly metKing Henry III regularly met

with church officials and nobleswith church officials and noblesto discuss issues withinto discuss issues withinEngland. These meetings wereEngland. These meetings werecalled Parliament. Gradually, thecalled Parliament. Gradually, thesize of the group grew in sizesize of the group grew in sizeand power. Eventually by theand power. Eventually by thelate 1300s, the group was calledlate 1300s, the group was calledParliament and it became aParliament and it became alegislature. The Parliament waslegislature. The Parliament wassignificant in the Englishsignificant in the Englishgovernment because thegovernment because thecitizens were being representedcitizens were being representedin government for the first time.in government for the first time.

Glorious RevolutionGlorious Revolution In the late 1600s, the people ofIn the late 1600s, the people of

England were not satisfied with theEngland were not satisfied with theway King James II was ruling theirway King James II was ruling theircountry. The Parliament showedcountry. The Parliament showedthey were more powerful than thethey were more powerful than themonarch when they threw Kingmonarch when they threw KingJames II out of power in 1688. ToJames II out of power in 1688. Toensure their power was greater thanensure their power was greater thanthe monarch’s, they wrote thethe monarch’s, they wrote theEnglish Bills of Rights. The GloriousEnglish Bills of Rights. The GloriousRevolution was important becauseRevolution was important becausefrom 1688 on, the English citizens’from 1688 on, the English citizens’voices would be heard through thevoices would be heard through theParliament and their voices would Parliament and their voices would

bebestronger than that of the monarch’s.stronger than that of the monarch’s.

House of BurgessesHouse of BurgessesIn 1607, English colonistsIn 1607, English colonists

established the first North Americanestablished the first North Americancolony, Jamestown, in Virginia. Thesecolony, Jamestown, in Virginia. Thesecolonists faced many problems likecolonists faced many problems likedisease and hunger. In 1619, thedisease and hunger. In 1619, thepeople of Jamestown took the people of Jamestown took the

initiativeinitiativeof sending two representatives fromof sending two representatives fromeach plantation or town to representeach plantation or town to representthem in a group. This group was them in a group. This group was

calledcalledthe House of Burgesses and they triedthe House of Burgesses and they triedto solve the problems of theto solve the problems of thesettlement. Even though the House ofsettlement. Even though the House ofBurgesses may not have beenBurgesses may not have beensuccessful in solving problems, it’ssuccessful in solving problems, it’simportant because it was the firstimportant because it was the firstlegislature and attempt at alegislature and attempt at arepresentative government in colonialrepresentative government in colonialAmerica.America.

Mayflower CompactMayflower CompactIn 1620, forty one of the pilgrimsIn 1620, forty one of the pilgrims

drew up and signed a documentdrew up and signed a documentcalled the Mayflower Compact before called the Mayflower Compact before they reached Massachusetts. Thisthey reached Massachusetts. Thisdocument stated that theirdocument stated that theirgovernment would make laws thatgovernment would make laws thatwould be good for all of thewould be good for all of thecommunity and that they would havecommunity and that they would havea direct democracy. Theira direct democracy. Theirestablishment of a direct democracy isestablishment of a direct democracy isimportant because it was the start ofimportant because it was the start ofmany other groups choosing a directmany other groups choosing a directdemocracy in New England.democracy in New England.

Enlightenment PeriodEnlightenment Period In the 1680s to 1770s, thereIn the 1680s to 1770s, there

was a period of philosophizingwas a period of philosophizingabout government. Peopleabout government. Peoplewere beginning to writewere beginning to writedocuments about how governmentsdocuments about how governmentsshould be and act (greater rights,should be and act (greater rights,equality). During this time period equality). During this time period

thisthisliterature spread and people began literature spread and people began

totoquestion their government. Evenquestion their government. Eventhough the center of thethough the center of theEnlightenment Period in France, it Enlightenment Period in France, it

hadhadan impact on our government todayan impact on our government todaybecause it laid the foundation for because it laid the foundation for

ourourconstitution.constitution.

MercantilismMercantilism All throughout the colonies’All throughout the colonies’history, the British were alwayshistory, the British were alwayslooking to make a profit off of them.looking to make a profit off of them.In the 1600s and 1700s, the BritishIn the 1600s and 1700s, the Britishfollowed mercantilism, that a countryfollowed mercantilism, that a countryshould export more goods than it importsshould export more goods than it importsbecause they believed it would makebecause they believed it would makethem wealthier. The colonists didn’t likethem wealthier. The colonists didn’t likepaying the high taxes, selling their goodspaying the high taxes, selling their goodsfor a lower price, and buying them fromfor a lower price, and buying them fromBritain at a much higher one. Spain,Britain at a much higher one. Spain,France, and even some of the colonistsFrance, and even some of the colonistsstarted a secret sales of goods because started a secret sales of goods because

ofofthe high prices. The policy ofthe high prices. The policy ofmercantilism is important because itmercantilism is important because itangered the colonists which was part ofangered the colonists which was part ofthe process leading to our independence.the process leading to our independence.

Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence

In 1776, most of the delegatesIn 1776, most of the delegatesthat met at the First and Secondthat met at the First and SecondContinental Congress felt they Continental Congress felt they

mustmustbecause independent from Britain.because independent from Britain.They formed a group to write aThey formed a group to write adocument to announce theirdocument to announce theirindependence, The Declaration ofindependence, The Declaration ofIndependence. The Declaration ofIndependence. The Declaration ofIndependence is one of the mostIndependence is one of the mostimportant documents in our historyimportant documents in our historybecause it was the biggest stepbecause it was the biggest steptowards independence and it towards independence and it

showedshowedthat everyone has the right to bethat everyone has the right to beindependent.independent.