NAME _______________________________________ DATE _______________ CLASS _________
netw rks
Primary Source Activity
The American Colonies and Their Government
Lesson 1 Influences on American Colonial Government
Documents That Founded a Nation
How is a new nation founded? In the case of the United States,
the right people came together at just the right place and time.
Events in the American colonies had led to a state of unrest in
the late 1700s. Many colonists were unhappy about the actions
of Great Britain’s king and parliament. Strong colonial leaders
supported the cause for liberty. They drew up documents
to express the reasons for their anger and actions. They
explained the kind of new nation they wanted. One document
declared independence from Great Britain. Later, another
document, the United States Constitution, set down laws for
the new nation to follow. The founding documents were based
on ideas that had developed over hundreds of years. Some of
the key ideas can be traced to three important documents: The
Magna Carta (1215), the English Bill of Rights (1689), and Two
Treatises of Government, by John Locke (1690).
On the pages that follow, you will read excerpts from each of
these documents. They show the persistence of the belief that
the people have rights that governments must honor.
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The final document excerpted is the Mayflower Compact. It
was drawn up by the Pilgrims who came from England aboard
the Mayflower to settle in North America. The Mayflower
Compact reminds us that a belief in self-government has
shaped America from its earliest days.
NAME _______________________________________ DATE _______________ CLASS _________
netw rks
Primary Source Activity
The American Colonies and Their Government
Analyzing Primary Sources
When King John of England placed his royal seal upon the
Magna Carta, he was agreeing to live by its laws. The rights
guaranteed by these new laws were originally intended only for
English nobles. Over time, however, all English people came to
expect those rights. The Magna Carta is important because it
states that everyone must follow the law, even kings.
Directions: Read the excerpts and answer the questions that
follow on the lines provided.
Magna Carta (1215)
A freeman shall not be amerced [fined] for a slight offense, except in
accordance with the degree of the offense; and for a grave offense he shall
be amerced in accordance with the gravity [seriousness] of the offense. . . .
We will appoint as justices, constables, sheriffs, or bailiffs [officers of the
court] only such as know the law of the realm [kingdom] and mean to
observe it well. . . .
To no one will we sell, to no one will we refuse or delay, right or justice. . . .
1.
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2.
Identifying What types of officials will be appointed, or
chosen, to bring about justice?
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Paraphrasing What is the meaning of the first excerpt
from the Magna Carta?
NAME _______________________________________ DATE _______________ CLASS _________
netw rks
Primary Source Activity
The American Colonies and Their Government
In the Glorious Revolution, the English parliament removed King James II
from the throne. Parliament then offered the crown to William and Mary. To
secure their new throne, William and Mary had to agree to uphold the basic
rights of the people. These rights were listed in the English Bill of Rights.
Directions: Read the excerpts and answer the questions that
follow on the lines provided.
English Bill of Rights (1689)
That election of members of Parliament ought to be free . . .
That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed,
nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted . . .
That all grants and promises of fines and forfeitures [penalties] of
particular persons before conviction are illegal and void . . .
3.
Interpreting What does the document say about the
rights of persons accused of a crime?
4.
Stating What does the document have to say about
elections?
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NAME _______________________________________ DATE _______________ CLASS _________
netw rks
Primary Source Activity
The American Colonies and Their Government
In his Second Treatise of Government, John Locke talks about natural
rights. He also discusses consent of the governed. He argues that people
must agree to be governed.
Directions: Read the excerpts and answer the questions that
follow on the lines provided.
Second Treatise of Government, from John Locke’s Two
Treatises of Government (1690)
The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges [compels]
every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but
consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another
in his life, health, liberty or possessions. . . .
[S]ubmitting to the laws of any country, living quietly, and enjoying privileges
and protection under them, makes not a man a member of that society. . . .
Nothing can make any man so, but his actually entering into it by positive
engagement, and express promise and compact. This is that, which I think,
concerning the beginning of political societies, and that consent which makes
any one a member of any common-wealth.
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6.
Describing According to Locke, what makes someone a
member of political societies, or societies with governments?
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Finding the Main Idea What rights does Locke discuss
in the first excerpt?
NAME _______________________________________ DATE _______________ CLASS _________
netw rks
Primary Source Activity
The American Colonies and Their Government
A compact is a written agreement. Decades before English philosophers
Thomas Hobbes and John Locke used the term social contract, the Pilgrim
settlers in New England created their own social contract.
Directions: Read the excerpt and answer the questions that
follow.
Mayflower Compact (1620)
We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread
Sovereign Lord King James . . . Do by these Presents, solemnly and
mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant [enter into an
agreement] and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick [a
group of people under an organized government] . . . And by Virtue hereof
do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances,
Acts, Constitutions, and Officers, from time to time, as shall be thought
most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto which
we promise all due Submission and Obedience.
7.
Identifying Who did the signers of the Mayflower
Compact pledge their loyalty to?
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Interpreting How does the Mayflower Compact
represent an act of self-government?
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8.
NAME _______________________________________ DATE _______________ CLASS _________
netw rks
Primary Source Activity
The American Colonies and Their Government
9.
Inferring Both the Declaration of Independence and the
Constitution borrow ideas from each of the documents
excerpted here. Why do you think our founding documents
used these ideas? Explain your answer by referring to the
excerpts from the Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights,
Second Treatise of Government, and the Mayflower
Compact. Continue your answer on the back of the page
if needed.
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