Kids Edition: From Mayflower to Mohawks: How America Got Its Rulebook

The US Constitution draws inspiration from numerous sources including the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, colonial documents, and Native American governance systems. These influences shaped core American principles like federalism, representative government, and individual rights.• Declaration of Independence (1776) established ideals of freedom, equality, and self-government• Articles of Confederation provided lessons on balancing state and national power• Mayflower Compact (1620) demonstrated self-governance with colonists creating fair laws• Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1639) established representative government with elected leaders• Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776) influenced the later Bill of Rights• Native American governance, particularly the Iroquois Confederacy, modeled federalism before the Constitution• Federalist-Antifederalist debates led to the addition of the Bill of Rights• Colonial constitutions and charters served as experimental blueprintsChallenge: Write your own rule or mini-constitution for your school or family and share it with a grown-up or teacher. Check Out the Civic Literacy Curriculum!School of Civic and Economic Thought and LeadershipCenter for American Civics