03013

ERA 3: Revolution and the New Nation (1754–1820s)

The Magna Carta Comes to America, by A.E. Dick Howard

Guiding Questions

How important is the Magna Carta to the Founding Fathers and the seminal documents of the United States?

How are governments created, structured, maintained, and changed?

What are the roles and responsibilities of government?

Signing the Magna Carta

Signing the Magna Carta

Teacher-to-Teacher

Most of our students are able to identify the Constitution as the “Holy Grail” and “Sacred Cow” of American government; however, it’s important for them to know that our Constitution had its origin in early documents. Many of the important documents mentioned in the article “Magna Carta Comes to America” are included in this collection, providing an opportunity for students to compare and contrast. In addition, the two political cartoons provide an opportunity for our students to not only to demonstrate their knowledge of these documents but to demonstrate the significance of the documents.