What Are the Origins of the Bill of Rights?

How did the the events and philosophies from British and colonial history shape the Founders' ideas about natural rights as well as the rights of Englishmen? How do these rights affect our daily lives in a free society?

Objectives

• Students will understand the ideas of the rights of Englishmen and natural rights, and identify similarities between historical statements about their rights and those rights’ current applications.
• Students will consider personal responsibilities and methods to protect individual rights, and understand how the colonial experience affected the development of the Bill of Rights.
• Students will analyze how the history behind English rights and the concept of natural rights influenced the American Revolution and the notion of just government.
• Students will evaluate the significance of individual rights in their daily lives.

Student Handouts

• Handout A: Rights Attitude Inventory
• Handout B: Background Essay – The Origins of the Bill of Rights
• Handout C: Foundations of Our Rights
• Handout D: Founding Documents and Philosophies

Teacher Resources

• What Are the Origins of the Bill of Rights? Answer Key