Which historical documents help shape the colonist's views of government?(1 point)
Responses
Common Sense, Articles of Confederation, Declaration of the Rights of Man
Common Sense, Articles of Confederation, Declaration of the Rights of Man
Virginia Declaration of Rights, Common Sense, Bill of Rights
Virginia Declaration of Rights, Common Sense, Bill of Rights
Magna Carta, Iroquois Constitution, Common Sense
Magna Carta, Iroquois Constitution, Common Sense
Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, Common
Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, Common Sense
Sense
Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, Common Sense
To determine which historical documents helped shape the colonists' views of government, we can look at the options provided and evaluate the significance of each document.
1. Common Sense: Common Sense is a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1776. It argued for American independence from Britain and influenced public opinion in favor of revolution. While it was not a formal government document, Common Sense contributed to shaping colonists' views on independence and self-governance.
2. Articles of Confederation: The Articles of Confederation were the first constitution of the United States, adopted in 1781. They established a weak central government with most power held by the individual states. The Articles of Confederation provided an important framework for early colonial governance and influenced later ideas about decentralized government.
3. Declaration of the Rights of Man: The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was a key document of the French Revolution, adopted in 1789. While it may have influenced the broader ideas of human rights and political equality, it had less direct impact on shaping the views of American colonists regarding their own government.
4. Virginia Declaration of Rights: The Virginia Declaration of Rights was adopted in 1776 as part of Virginia's Constitution. It affirmed individual rights, including freedom of speech, press, and religion. Although it was specific to Virginia, the Virginia Declaration of Rights expressed ideas that influenced the broader understanding of individual liberties in colonial America.
5. Bill of Rights: The Bill of Rights refers to the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1791. It outlined specific rights and protections for individuals, such as freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, and protection against unreasonable searches and seizures. The Bill of Rights played a significant role in shaping the colonists' views on the role of government in safeguarding individual freedoms.
6. Magna Carta: The Magna Carta was a historic document signed in 1215 in England. Although it predates the American colonial period, its principles of limiting the power of the king and protecting individual rights influenced subsequent documents and legal traditions in the English-speaking world, including the American colonies.
7. Iroquois Constitution: The Iroquois Constitution, also known as the Great Law of Peace, was the governing system of the Iroquois Confederacy. While it did not directly shape the colonists' views of government, some historians have suggested that the principles of confederacy and representative government found in the Iroquois Constitution may have influenced early American political thought.
Based on the evaluation of the options, the historical documents that most directly shaped the colonists' views of government were:
- Common Sense
- Articles of Confederation
- Magna Carta
These documents provided important ideas and frameworks for the colonists' understanding of independence, self-governance, limited government, and individual rights.