There were many historical events and early governing documents that led to the development of the United States Constitution. There were principles of self-government and limited governments that were embodied in the Constitution and explain the tension between them.
In June 1215, the Magna Carta was signed between the barons of Medieval England and King John. “Great Charter” is the Latin meaning for “Magna Carta.” It was one of the most important documents of that time. It was also the attempt by the barons to stop King John from abusing his power with the people of England suffering. Many years later, the first attempt for self-determining government in America was the Mayflower Compact which occurred in November 1620. This agreement was brought about because there were rumors that the non Separatists, called “Strangers” would defy the Pilgrims if they landed in a place other than that specified in the land grant they had received from the London Company. Up until the period after the French and Indian War (1755-1763), the colonists had considered themselves loyal to the British King. After the war, the British laid heavy taxes on the colonies, which lead them into anger and they rallied “no taxation without representation.” This quickly led into more anger and sparked an act of defiance that becomes known as the “Boston Tea Party” in December 1773. Quickly after in 1774, colonist met to decide what they could demand from Britain and King George III rejected their demands. In 1775 British troops and colonial minutemen clashed at Lexington and Concord. This is known as “the shot heard ‘round the world” and the American Revolution had begun. A year later, in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was passed. This was a framework for a new form of government and included liberty, equality, individual rights, self-government, lawful powers, which became the basis of the Constitution of the United States eleven years later. After year rolled around another form...