Historical Documents that Influenced America

Way back in the Middle Ages, England was ruled by a King, who shared a little of his powers with the wealthy nobility.

In the early 1200's King John tried to take all of that power back. The angry nobles fought back

In 1215 they created a document called the Magna Carta

This document LIMITED THE POWER OF THE KING

It also protected certain rights of the Nobles

Also said laws and punishments had to be fair and equal

Everyone was entitled to due process and a FAIR TRIAL if accused of a crime.

Given better property rights (Their stuff couldn't just be taken away)

The nobility was able to force King John to sign the Magna Carta

This was a big deal because it introduced the concepts of limited government, rule of law, and due process

It also helped create Britain's first Parliament.

When the Pilgrims left England for the new World, they were supposed to land in Virginia where a colony was already thriving

Instead, they ended up in Massachusetts where no colony existed

They needed a government fast!!

The men agreed to create a new government and to follow its rules.

In exchange, they would all protect each other.

This is called self-government!

The Parliament (lawmakers) had been fighting with the King.

Parliament won, and passed the English Bill of Rights.

Like the Magna Carta, the BOR expanded the rights of Parliament and the people, while limiting the powers of the King more

This applied to citizens in England and the colonies!

By the 1700's the King was making more demands of the colonie

Many were fed up and wanted to separate from Britain

Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet trying to persuade everyone to break from England

It was written in a way that EVERYONE poor and rich could understand

6 months later the Declaration was signed!