How did the Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, Mayflower Compact, and Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" influence colonists' views of government?
Answer (3)
The Magna Carta limited the power of the King and thus protected the rights of the nobility. The English Bill of Rights further limited the power of the King and expanded the rights of the people. "Common Sense" was a document that attempted to convince the colonists that they should become independent from British rule.
The sum of these documents influenced colonists to create a government in which the ruler was limited, and the power was mostly with the people.
Influences of Historical Documents on Colonial Views of Government:
The Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, Mayflower Compact, and Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" played pivotal roles in shaping the colonial view on government. The Magna Carta introduced the concept of limited government, signifying that a monarch's power was not absolute. This principle of the monarch not being above the law and the necessity of the king to comply with the law was a fundamental influence on America's founding documents and the establishment of political rights. Common Sense, authored by Thomas Paine, further propagated the ideals of the Enlightenment and advocated for equality and the rejection of a hereditary monarchy, suggesting that if a king failed to protect the interests of his subjects, they had no reason to retain him. Paine's appeal to both the practical and philosophical helped colonists understand the inadequacy of remaining under British rule.
The Mayflower Compact set an important precedent for self-governance in that it was an agreement creating a political body and giving legitimacy to the colony's laws and officials. It established the principle that a legitimate government is based on the consent of the governed, an idea further developed by Enlightenment philosophers, notably John Locke. The Compact's application of these democratic principles demonstrated an early form of social contract which was essential in the later formation of American political ideology.
Lastly, the English Bill of Rights, influenced by struggles between the English monarchy and Parliament, established various civil liberties which were seen as inherent and were later mirrored in the American Constitution. These documents collectively reinforced the concept of federalism and the importance of creating a government that would serve to protect the rights and liberties of the people rather than to control them completely.
Documents such as the Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights influenced colonists by promoting principles of limited government and individual rights. The Mayflower Compact established early steps toward self-governance, while Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" urged for independence from British rule. Collectively, these influences shaped colonial attitudes towards democracy and the justification for seeking independence.
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