There are various documents that
have an impact on the constitution. I am going to explain three
documents that had affected constitution table. I hope it helps.
Thanks !
- Magna Carta: This
was written in the year of 1215. It marks itself as the first
document in history that pushed to limit the monarch’s power over
the people and provide a “law of the land.”
- Effect on constitution: There must be a
written agreement to limit the powers for the government over the
people. Being Englishmen by birth, our Founding Fathers knew of the
charter’s profound impact and used it as their example when framing
the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Many of the laws
outlined by the Magna Carta translated over into the Constitution,
such as the right to due process and limiting the powers of
Congress and the President.
- Mayflower compact:
The Mayflower Compact provides a set contract of fair and equal
laws, drawn up by the colonists on board the Mayflower.
- Effect on constitution: The Mayflower Compact
was proof that a written agreement between settlers could be
followed and successful in the Colonies. The settlers of 1620 were
also escaping religious persecution by travelling to America and
provided protection to the people to whichever religion they
practiced. In the Bill of Rights, the first amendment protects
citizen’s religious preferences, as well.
- Article of
confederation: The Articles of Confederation was the
United States first real attempt at a Constitution. After declaring
their independence from England, the colonists were left with no
central government, and needed to install a new government quickly
to be able to direct their attention to winning the War for
Independence.
- Effect on constitution: The Articles got the
new United States through the revolutionary war (barely) and
prepared the country for a more robust and flexible form of
government. Because of the seeds sown in 1776, the United States
was ready to move to a new system in 1787.