-
Jul 4, 1176
The Declaration of Independence
It was created for Lee's resolution but after spirited debate, for many of the delegates had serious doubts about the wisdom of a complete seperation from England. What it did was made the 13 colonies become free and independent states. -
Jan 18, 1215
The Magna Carta
It was created because a group determined barons forced King John to sign it. The Magna Carta protected against heavy-handed and arbitrary acts by the king. -
The Petition of Right
It was created because it limited the king's power in several ways. What the document did was it demanded that the king no longer imprison or otherwise punish any person but by the lawful judgment of his peers. -
English Bill of Rights
It was created because it prohibited a standing army in peacetime. What it did was give guarantees as the right to a fair trial, and freedom from excessive bail and from cruel and unusual punishment. -
The Albany Plan of Union
It was created because the seven colonies discussed the problems of colonial trade and the danger attacks by the French and their Native American allies. What it did would do was the body would have the power to raise military and naval forces, make war and peace with the Native Americans. -
The Articles of Confederation
It was created to establish "a firm league of friendship" among the states. What it did was kept each state under "its sovereignty, Jurisdiction, and right... not... expressly delegated to the Untied States, in the Congress assembled." -
The Constitution of the United States
It was created because it sets out the basic principles upon which government in the United States was built and operates today. What it does is lays out the basic framework and procedures of our government and sets out the limits within which the government conducts itself. -
The Virginia Plan
It was created to creat the new government into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. What it did was represent each house to be based either upon each state's population or upon the amount of money it gave for the support of the central government. -
The New Jersey Plan
It was created because it retained the unicameral Congress of the Confederation with each states equally represented. What it did was made those powers Congress already had, would be added closely limited powers to tax and to regulate trade between the staes. -
The Connecticut Compromise
It was created because in the smaller senate, the states would be represented equally. What the agreement satisfied the smaller States in particular, it made it possible for them to support the creation of a strong central government.
