How does the Constitution reflect previous documents? What earlier documents influenced the Constitution?

Charters of the Virginia Company of London
 - Rights of Englishmen guaranteed to colonists

The Virginia Declaration of Rights
 -  Served as a model for the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the United States of America

Declaration of Independence
 - Stated grievances against the king of Great Britain
 - Declared the colonies’ independence from Great Britain
 - Affirmed “certain unalienable rights” (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness)
 - Established the idea that all people are equal under the law

Articles of Confederation
 - Established the first form of national government for the independent states.
 -Weakness of central government (e.g., no power to tax and enforce laws)—Led to the writing of the Constitution of the United States of America

Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
- Freedom of religious beliefs and opinions

The Constitution (and Bill of Rights)

• Establishes the structure of the U.S. government
• Guarantees equality under the law with majority rule and the rights of the minority protected.
• Affirms individual worth and dignity of all people
• Protects the fundamental freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.