Democratic Documents

By kywilliams
  • Jan 15, 1215

    The Magna Carta

    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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 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 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
    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.