English Influences on the Constitution

Despite the fact that the colonies were revolting against England, they were still predominantly influenced by English thought. In drafting their new laws and constitutions, they utilized English ideas. In particular, three documents had a large influence on the development of American government (and eventually, the United States Constitution): the Magna Carta, the Petition of Right, and the English Bill of Rights.

The Magna Carta

The Magna Carta ("Great Charter") is a charter of rights signed by English nobles and King John in 1215. This document established several fundamental rights that are still cited today. These include limited power of government, right to trial by jury, and the due process of law.

Petition of Right

The Petition of Right was part of a long-running conflict between Parliament and the monarchy of England. In 1628, Charles I was king, and the House of Commons wrote and passed the Petition of Right, which reaffirmed the authority of the Magna Carta and specifically declared certain rights and liberties that Parliament said Charles I had infringed upon. These rights included the right to trial by jury, a protection against martial law, a prohibition of quartering soldiers in private citizens' homes, and a protection of private property. Many of these rights have a direct corollary in the United States Constitution. For instance, the Third Amendment of the Constitution disallows the quartering of soldiers. The Petition of Right was one of the earliest documents that established the concept of rule of law and supported the idea that people have rights.

English Bill of Rights

Written in 1689 after the successful overthrow of King James II in the Glorious Revolution, the English Bill of Rights established limits on the power of the monarchy. It also listed several other important rights that laid the foundation for the rights we enjoy today. These rights included the right of petition, the right to free elections, Parliamentary checks on the monarch's power, and the idea that there shouldn't be a standing army during peacetime.