Document 7: The Articles of Confederation: America’s First Governing Experiment
When the ink dried on the Declaration of Independence in 1776, it was more than just a symbolic break from British rule; it was the dawn of a new, uncertain…
Document 6: A Witness to Revolution: The Declaration of Independence’s Defiant Leap
Document 5 on our path to the Founding of the American Republic was Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense.” But, Document 6 in our list, the Declaration of Independence, was America’s point…
Document 5: Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense”: Catalyzing the American Revolution
Introduction “Common Sense,” a pamphlet by Thomas Paine published in January 1776, stands as one of the most influential writings in American history. Amidst the tumultuous events of the American…
Document 4: The Virginia Declaration of Rights – Precursor to the US Constitution’s Bill of Rights
This is the fourth installment of historical antecedents to the Constitution of the United States. Prior documents were: the Magna Carta, the Mayflower Compact, the English Bill of Rights, and…
Document 3: English Bill of Rights: Context, Provisions, Impact, and Legacy
This is my third article on the historical antecedents of the United States Constitution. The Magna Carta and the Mayflower Compact have previously been addressed, plus a stop-over into the…
Document 3a: Echoes of Liberty: From the Magna Carta to Bushell’s Stand – The Unyielding Journey of Justice and Rights
Stand with me, if you will, on the precipice of history. We continue on a journey from the Magna Carta, sealed in 1215, to the birth of the American Constitution…
Document 2: The Mayflower Compact – A Foundation for Religious Freedom and Representative Governance
Imagine standing on the edge of the known world, about to step into the unknown. You just crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a tiny ship with your home and civilization…
Document 1: Magna Carta: A story of power, of people, and of a promise that changed the world
Picture this: a field at Runnymede, beside the gently flowing River Thames. It’s June 15, 1215. We’re about to witness one of the most pivotal moments in history—the signing of…
Document 0: From Magna Carta to US Constitution – A Journey from the Divine Right of Kings to a Democratic Republic
The Signing of the United States Constitution occurred on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states (all but…
Bill of Rights: Ancient Wisdom, Enlightenment, Philosophy & Theological Insights
Wherefore art thou my old friends – the rule of law, checks and balances, separation of powers, Bill of Rights, etc.? Constitution Week just ended today (Sept 17-23), and little…