1. Influence of Earlier Documents on American Government
SOL:
CE 2b

2. American constitutional government is founded on concepts articulated in earlier documents.

3. Earlier Documents
The charters of the Virginia Company of London guaranteed the rights of Englishmen to the colonists.

4. Charters of the VA Company
Author: King James I (of England)
Impact: Provided the first government for the Virginia colony

5. Earlier Documents
The Virginia Declaration of Rights served as a model for the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the United States of America.

6. Virginia Declaration of Rights
Author: George Mason
Impact: Many rights later contained in the Bill of Rights

7. Earlier Documents Author: Thomas Jefferson
The Declaration of Independence
stated grievances against the king of Great Britain
declared the colonies’ independence from Great Britain
affirmed “certain unalienable rights” (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness)
established the idea that all people are equal under the law.
Author: Thomas Jefferson

8. Earlier Documents The Articles of Confederation
established the first form of national government for the independent states
maintained that major powers resided with individual states
created weak central government (e.g., no power to tax or enforce laws); led to the writing of the Constitution of the United States of America.

9. Articles of Confederation
Author: Continental Congress
Impact: States would hold power

10. Earlier Documents
The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom stated freedom of religious beliefs and opinions.

11. Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
Author: Thomas Jefferson
Impact: Stated separation of church and state

12. The Constitution of the United States (and Bill of Rights)
established the structure of the United States government
affirmed individual worth and dignity of all people
guaranteed equality under the law with majority rule and the rights of the minority protected
protected the fundamental freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.

13. The Constitution of the United States (and Bill of Rights)

14. The Constitution of the United States (and Bill of Rights)

15. Review Quiz

16. What document guaranteed the rights of Englishmen to the colonists?
The Charters of the Virginia Company

17. What two documents did Thomas Jefferson write?
The Declaration of Independence and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

18. What was the first government for the new states?
The Articles of Confederation

19. Which document served as a model for the Bill of Rights?
Virginia Declaration of Rights

20. What document established the idea that all people are equal under the law?
The Declaration of Independence

21. What document establishes the structure of American government?
The Constitution of the United States

22. Which document stated that states should have more power than the national government?
The Articles of Confederation

23. Under the Constitution who rules and whose rights are protected?
Majority rules with the rights of the minority protected

24. Which document led to the writing of the Constitution of the United States?
The Articles of Confederation