C.I. D Bayne – B011/Rippe B044Origins of Constitutional Principles and Rights

Created by Tim Bayne Page 1 of 2 10/15/03

C.I. 1 The Foundations and Principles of the U.S. Constitution.1.3 Identify the philosophical origins of democracy.

Goal: To understand the European origins of principles and rights contained in theConstitution.

You will examine actual primary documents or writings with the idea of making a directcorrelation to the provisions of theUnited States Constitution 1787.http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.overview.html

These documents can be found on the web. Below are sites for you. Feel free to searchfor your own.The primary documents that you will need to use are the following:

• Magna Carta – 1215http://www.constitution.org/eng/magnacar.htm

• English Petition of Rights – 1628.http://www.constitution.org/eng/petright.htm

• English Bill of Rights – 1689.http://www.constitution.org/eng/eng_bor.htm

• John Locke’s - Second Treaties of Civil Government1690

http://www.constitution.org/jl/2ndtreat.htm

• Baron de Montesquieu’s - Spirit of Laws 1748.http://www.constitution.org/cm/sol_01.htm

John Locke (b. 1632, d. 1704)

Baron de Montesquieu’s (b 1689, d.1755)

Note: you can also use The Citizen and the Constitution We the Peopletextbook if you chose to use it as an aid.

C.I. D Bayne – B011/Rippe B044Origins of Constitutional Principles and Rights

Created by Tim Bayne Page 2 of 2 10/15/03

Directions: Complete the chart by listing basic principles of government or rights ascitizens in the column headed “Basic Principle or Right.” In the center column headed“Historical Source” indicate the document or writing where this right can be found.Finally, in the third column headed “Constitutional Location” indicate the specific sectionof the United States Constitution where the right or principle cited was incorporated.

Basic Principle or Right Historical Source Constitutional Location

Consent to taxation Magna Carta Article I, Section 7