Magna CartaThis document, signed by King John of Endland in 1215, is the cornerstone of English justice and law. It declared that the king and government were bound by the same laws as other citizens of England. It contained the antecedents of the ideas of due process and the right to a fair and speedy trial that are included in the protection offered by the U.S. Bill of Rights
Mayflower CompactThis document was drafted in 1620 prior to settlement by the Pilgrims at Plymouth Bay in Massachusetts. It declared that the 41 males who signed it agreed to accept majority rule and participate in a government in the best interest of all members of the colony. This agreement set the precedent for later documents outlining commonwealth rule.
English Bill of RightsKing William and Queen Mary accepted this document in 1689. It guaranteed certain rights to English citizens and declared that elections for Parliament would happen frequently. By accepting this document, they supported a limited monarchy, a system in which they shared their power with Parliament and the people.
Declaration of Independencethe document recording the proclamation of the Second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain
Article of Confederationthe first government of the U.S. ratified in 1781. Put much of the power with the state governments (including the power to tax and regulate trade), this left the national government weak and unable to raise money to pay back war debts
Constitution of the United States of America- The supreme law of the United States.- Agreement that created a more unified national structure for the U.S., providing for a legislature and independent executive and judicial authority; Bill of Rights
Federalist Papersa series of 85 essays written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay (using the name "publius") published in NY newspapers and used to convice readers to adopt the new constitution
Bill of Rightsa statement of fundamental rights and privileges (especially the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution)
1st Amendmentfreedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition
2nd AmendmentRight to bear arms
3rd AmendmentNo quartering of Soldiers
4th AmendmentNo unreasonable searches or siezures
5th Amendmentright to grand jury, indictment, no double jeopardy, freedom from self-incrimination, due process of law
6th Amendmentright to a speedy and public trial. right to a fair jury. right to know what you are being accused of. right to see/hear witnesses against you. right to have a witness to help defend you. right to a lawyer.
7th AmendmentRight to a trial by jury in civil cases
8th AmendmentNo cruel and unusual punishments
9th AmendmentCitizens entitled to rights not listed in the Constitution
10th Amendmentpowers reserved to the States
Marbury v. MadisonThe 1803 case in which Chief Justice John Marshall and his associates first asserted the right of the Supreme Court to determine the meaning of the U.S. Constitution. The decision established the Court's power of judicial review over acts of Congress, (the Judiciary Act of 1789).
McCulloch v. MarylandSupreme Court case which validated the constitutionality of the Bank of the United States, denying states' rights to tax it
Dredd Scott v. SanfordA 1857 Supreme Court decision that inflamed hostilities between the north and the south regarding slavery.The Court stated that an African American,was not a citizen and did not have the right to sue for his freedom
13th Civil War Amendment1865, prohibit slavery
14th Civil War AmendmentIncludes 6 things.-It defined all people born or naturalized within the U.S., except Native Americans, as citizens.-It guaranteed citizens the equal protection of the laws.-It said that states could not "deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law."-It banned many former Confederate officials from holding state or federal court reviews.-It made state laws subject to federal court review.-It gave Congress the power to pass any laws needed to enforce it.
15th Civil War Amendment
