Lesson 4: What Were the British Origins of American Constitutionalism?

Lesson Objectives

When you have finished this lesson, you should  be able to

• explain how rights and representative government evolved in England and how this evolution  influenced the Founders,
•  identify the origins of some of Americans’ most important constitutional rights, and
• evaluate, take, and defend positions on the influence of the Magna Carta on the development of rights and the importance of habeas corpus and trial  by jury.