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Jan 15, 1215
The Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was created to seek protection against heavy-handed and arbitrary acts by the king. The document provided rights for trial by jury and due process of law. -
The Petition of Right
The Petition of Right limited a king's power. The king could no longer imprison or punish any person if it was not lawful. The Petition of Right was created to challenge the king's rights and declare even he must follow the law. -
The English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights was created to prevent the abuse of power by WIlliam and Mary of Orange. The document stopped a standing army in peachtime and required all parliamentary elections were free. It also guarenteed the right of fair trial, freedom of excessive bail, and protection from cruel and unusual punishment. -
The Albany Plan of Union
The Albany Plan of Union was created to form an annual congresso of delegates. It had the power to raise military and naval forces, make war and peace, and regulate trade, tax, and collect custom duties. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was created to proclaim the existence of a new nation. It delcalres independence of the United States. -
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was created to establish a friendship among the states. Each state kept freedom and independence. After ratification, the states each followed the document. -
The Connecticut Compromise
The Connecticut Compromise was created to settle a dispute about representation in Congress. The compromise agreed that Congress should be composed of two houses. This created the Senate and State Houses. -
The Constitution of the United States
The Constituion did not take affect until 1789. THis document set the basic principles of the United States government. It was created to set organization of the United States. -
The Virginia Plan
The document was created to establish a constitution. The Virginia Plan established a government with three different branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. -
The New Jersey Plan
The New Jersey Plan gave each state the right to equally represent themselves in the Congress of the Confederation. It was created to call for a federal executive of more than one person.
