Constitution Table

Magna Carta According to McClatchy (2007), the Magna Carta is a document signed by King John that limited his power and guaranteed the basic rights of the people. The Magna Carta was signed after the King was threatened with civil war because he abused his power. It consisted of provisions for religious freedom, limits on royal seizure of property, and trial by jury. The Magna Carta influenced the Constitution because it expressed the feelings of the colonists. It allowed everyone to see that America means freedom, but is protected by the laws set forth.

Mayflower Compact The Mayflower Compact is a written agreement composed by the new settlers arriving at New Plymouth. They believed that covenants should not only be made between God and man, but between one another. Some believe that the Mayflower Compact was the foundation of the Constitution. The Compact became the basis of government in the Plymouth colony. By signing the document, the men agreed to form a temporary government and be bound by its laws. Raible stated that, “their Mayflower Compact clearly registered their intention to create their own government.” (1996). Raible continued by saying that it was, “to enact constitute and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good.” (1996). The Constitution was formed on the same basis as the Mayflower Compact. They are both based on everyone being created equal. It is indirectly stating that everyone has unalienable rights. It has influenced the rights to have life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Articles of Confederation The Articles of Confederation were the first Constitution. It was an agreement between the thirteen founding states. It established the United States as a confederation of sovereign states. It was written to describe how the leaders would run the country and what the government could or could not do. The Articles of...