1. What do these ideas have in common?
Stop and Frisk law
PATRIOT Act
Abortion Laws
You being at a house party

2. They ALL deal with Constitutional and Individual Rights
Why are the old documents so crucial?
How did they influence the Constitution?
….Who cares!?

3. Happy Constitution Day 
YOU!!!!!
It is because of the individuals who wrote these documents and continued to encourage their use that YOU have the individual rights and freedoms today.
Happy Constitution Day 

4. Preamble to the US Constitution

5. Documents Project
“Stepping Stones to the Constitution”
Magna Carta
Mayflower Compact
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
English Bill of Rights
Two Treatises of Government
Common Sense
Virginia Declaration of Rights
Declaration of Independence
Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom
Articles of Confederation
Federalist #14
U.S. Bill of Rights

6. Influences on American Government

7. Democratic Government (it wasn’t our idea…shhh…)

8. Greeks and Romans
Democratic government began with their ideas of direct and representative democracy

9. The Magna Carta (1215) English Lords force King John I to sign it
First attempt to limit power of the British monarchy
Spells out rights of nobles
Witnesses allowed at trial
No unlawful search and seizure
Trial by jury
Creation of Parliament

10. Mayflower Compact (1619) Written by 41 men rep. Pilgrim families
Elected their own leaders
Made their own laws
Social contract: people make rules, grant power to a government

11. Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1636)
Thomas Hooker & other Puritan leaders
American’s 1st “written constitution”
a social contract
details of government processes: elections, laws, etc.
Outlines assembly & court makeup (ordered government)

12. English Bill of Rights (1689)
British Nobility (Parliament)
William & Mary accepted it to take the thrown in England
Assured English people basic civil rights and limited the power of the monarchy
No excessive bail or fines
No cruel or unusual punishment
Suspension of public laws or raising armies during peace time can only be done with consent of parliament

13. Two Treatises of Government (1690)
John Locke
Dissolution of government from within if not working for the people
“men, by nature are inherently equal”…should not be ruled with out their consent
people must give up some power for the common good  majority rule

14. Sooo…we start a war for FREEDOM. >:I And eventually win
Sooo…we start a war for FREEDOM!! >:I And eventually win!!  Oh…then we have to set up our own government :/

16. National Archives Documents Project
We have been asked to develop an exhibit as an extension in the National Archives! (have you ever been there? Go!)
Groups will be assigned document
Read original document, research context
Identify key components which inspired aspects of the U.S. Constitution
Create an engaging, detailed display of doc.
Set up display for museum walk in class before sending it off to National Archives

17. Documents Project Name of Document
Image/Symbol to represent main document idea
Date of Publication
Author(s)
History/Context/Purpose surrounding this document
(What was happening in this region at this time?)
Summary of Ideas
Logically organized
Clear detailed bullet points
Well-rounded overview
7. Creative approach to draw visitors in, visually engaging, neatly completed (i.e. direct quotes, artifacts to supplement info, slogans, etc.)
Proper grammar and writing mechanics

18. What is your goal here?
Create a display which emphasizes key components of the document and how/why it is considered a “Stepping Stone” to the US Constitution
You will need to assess the significance of each document in the museum walk and choose ONE stepping stone as being the most influential and explain WHY (Friday)

19. Common Sense (1775) Thomas Paine Unite Colonies against England
Fuel the fires of the Revolution
“Tis time to part”

20. VA Declaration of Rights (1776)
written by George Mason
outlined rights and liberties of “citizens” of VA
served as a model for the US Bill of Rights

21. Declaration of Independence (1776)
justified American fight for self-rule
declared colonies independent from England
listed 27 grievances against King George
stated our new nation would be founded on “human liberty and consent of the governed”
Thomas Jefferson, the primary author, was very much influenced by John Locke

22. VA Statute of Religious Freedom (1777)
written by Thomas Jefferson
stated there should be NO state religion… people were free to exercise religious freedom, including practicing NO religion at all
taxpayer money should not be used to support the church (any church)

23. The Articles of Confederation (1781)
the first attempt at a national constitution
created a loose “league of friendship” among the states
its writers did not want a strong central government, like in England
created a weak national government with limited powers

24. The Articles of Confederation (1781)
Congress COULD:
Borrow money
Create a national army and navy
Declare war
Create post offices
Sign treaties with foreign nations

25. The Articles of Confederation (1781)
Congress COULD NOT:
levy taxes
draft soldiers into military service
regulate commerce
There was NO:
national executive (president)
judicial branch (court system)
Each state was equal, with one vote, regardless of size or population
9/13 states required to pass legislation
Unanimous (13/13) vote required to amend Articles

26. Federalist #14 (1788) James Madison (Hamilton, Hay)
Argued Constitution’s federal system and separation of powers would protect rights of the people
All essays advocated strong central government & ratification of Constitution

27. U.S. Bill of Rights (1791) James Madison
First 10 amendments to Constitution
Protect individual freedoms