Yale University
The Avalon Project: The English Bill of Rights 1689
An electronic version of the original English Bill of Rights, written in 1689, which influenced the writings of Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams, and laid the basis for American Democracy and common law.
![Our Courts: Bill of Rights: You Mean I've Got Rights? [Pdf] Lesson Plan](https://static.lp.lexp.cloud/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "Our Courts: Bill of Rights: You Mean I've Got Rights? [Pdf] Lesson Plan")
Other
Our Courts: Bill of Rights: You Mean I've Got Rights? [Pdf]
A great, active lesson about the Bill of Rights. Students compare rights they think they should have with the rights in the actual amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The language of the amendments is broken down into simpler English so...
Teaching American History
Teaching American History: The Documentary Origins of the Bill of Rights I
Explore both the British and state influences on the U.S. Bill of Rights. Understand the origins of each amendment to the Constitution.
W. W. Norton
W.w. Norton & Company: English Bill of Rights (Extracts): Chapter 23
Read thirteen extracts from the English Bill of Rights covering limitation of the royal authority, empowering Parliament to levy taxes, and establishing legislative representation.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: United States Bill of Rights
This encyclopedia article from Wikipedia gives some background history to the creation of the Bill of Rights and contains a transcription of the first ten amendments to the Constitution in their original form.
Other
Lesson Plans for Teaching the First Amendment
This FreedomForum.org site lists the three English documents that were precursors to the American Bill of Rights.
Digital History
Digital History: The Emergence of New Ideas About Personal Liberties
American colonists expected to have "English rights" as supported by the Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights. See how these rights were applied in the trial of John Peter Zenger, whose acquittal reflected the right of freedom of...
iCivics
I Civics: Colonial Influences
Where did the American colonists get their ideas that lead to a revolution and a whole new kind of government? This lesson explores the Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, English Bill of Rights, Cato's Letters, and Common Sense.
Yale University
Yale Law School: Resolutions of the Continental Congress, 1765
Contains the primary text of the resolutions against the Stamp Act sent to King George III.
This Nation
This nation.com: Resolutions of the Stamp Act Congress
This site provides the full text of the resolutions of the Stamp Act Congress.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Frontier Fosters Self Reliance
Based on the theory that because the King had given the colonists so many freedoms, and he had problems on the home-front, the colonists' will was strengthened. This contributed to the Revolution. There are links to Virginia's First...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Background on the Patriot Attitude Toward the Monarchy
In this lesson plan, students will consider "Background on the Patriot Attitude Toward the Monarchy." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Emergence of Colonial Government
Detailed essay which shows how colonial self-government developed prior to the Revolutionary War.
Bartleby
Bartleby.com: American Political Writing James Otis
This site discusses the political writings of James Otis concerning the British authority to search for smuggled goods with writs of assistance. Otis argued they were the worst violation of English liberties. This site contains quotes...
CPALMS
Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Colonists: What Were They Thinking?
This tutorial looks at the British political traditions that influenced the American colonists as they gained their independence from Britain and created their own form of government. A PDF file of the tutorial is available.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Kids History: The Magna Carta
Study the Magna Carta on this website. Learn about this famous document set the course for English Common Law as well as the US Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Other
Colonial America: Life in Colonial America
Here's a site with lots of information written by middle school students. Click on English Colonial Life, then Development of Self-Government for more information on government of the colonies.