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Founding Documents of the United States Constitution - Coggle Diagram
Founding Documents of the United States Constitution
Magna Carta
Established the principle that everyone, including the king was subject to the law
Gave Englishmen basic rights and freedoms for the first time
Written in 1215 by English nobles and Englishmen
Contains the Rule of Law Principle
Charter of the VA Co. of London
Instructed colonists to participate in their own government, and colonists were allowed to elect representative to work with the governor and council to pass colonial laws
Contains the Republic principle
Guaranteed the rights of Englishmen to the colonists
Gave the colonists permission by the King to start a new colony in the New World.
Issued by King James in 1606
Virginia Declaration of Rights
Influenced the writing for the Bill of Rights and the Constitution
Stated that citizens had natural rights that were not given to them by governments, which included the Freedom of Religion, Freedom and Press, and the enjoyment of life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness
Authored by George Mason in 1776
Contains the Limited Government principle
Declaration of Independance
Stated grievances/complaints against the King of Britain
Declared the colonies' independence from Great Britain
Written by Thomas Jefferson and signed on July 4, 1776
Contains the Consent of the Governed principle
Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom
States that citizens are free to worship pleased
Citizens could not be punished or have their rights taken away for their religious beliefs
Seperated church and state government
Was the basis for the 1st Amendment of the Constitution
Written by Thomas Jefferson in 1786
Contains the Limited Government principle
The Articles of Confederation
Created a weak central government and maintained that major powers will be given to the individual states
There was only a Legislative Branch, no Judicial of Executive, and they did not want a king or another unfair court system
Established the first form of national government for the independent states
Due to the weaknesses of the central government, the Articles of Confederation led directly to the writing of the Constitution because the Founding Fathers wanted to fix their mistakes
Was created on November 15, 1777 but ratified on February 2, 1781
Contains the Federalism principle
John Dickinson wrote most of the final document
United States Constitution
Constitution
Guides the government and gives rules for how it should work
Guaranteed equality under the law with majority rule and the rights of the minority protected
Affirmed Individual worth and dignity of all people
Established the structure of the United States government
Protected the fundamental freedoms of speech, religion, press, petition, and assembly
Signed September 17, 1787
Contains the Rule of Law, Separation of Powers, Federalism, Limited Government, Consent to the Governed, and Popular Sovereignty principle
Bill of Rights
Lists all the rights the citizens have that the government must protect
The Bill of Rights was based ideas from:
Virginia Declaration of Rights - George Mason
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom - Thomas Jefferson
Limited Government Principle