The U.S. government did not appear out of nowhere. When American leaders built a new system after independence, they looked to older governments, ideas, and documents for guidance. Some of these came from Great Britain, some from European philosophers, and others from Indigenous nations already governing in North America. These influences helped shape how Americans thought about power, freedom, and unity.

British Documents and Limited Government

Before the American Revolution, the colonies had been under British rule for over 150 years. During that time, they became familiar with important British ideas about government. Several key documents helped develop the idea of limited government—a government that does not have unlimited power and must follow the law.

The Magna Carta (1215) was the first major step in limiting the power of a ruler. It forced the English king to agree that he could not take property, punish people unfairly, or raise taxes without approval. It gave nobles certain rights and showed that rulers had to obey the law.

Later, the Petition of Right (1628) added to these ideas. It said the king could not imprison people without cause or use soldiers in people’s homes without permission. It was a reminder that even the king had to respect individual rights and legal rules.

The English Bill of Rights (1689) gave more power to Parliament and protected rights like freedom of speech and fair trials. It also said the government could not collect taxes or keep an army without Parliament’s approval. These ideas strongly influenced the colonists, who wanted to build a government where leaders could not act without limits.

Enlightenment Thinkers and the Role of Government

In the 1600s and 1700s, European thinkers known as Enlightenment philosophers began writing about government and individual rights. Their ideas inspired the American colonists to think differently about freedom, power, and the purpose of government.

John Locke believed that all people have natural rights—life, liberty, and property—and that the job of government is to protect those rights. He also believed that if a government failed to do this, people had the right to change or replace it. These ideas directly influenced the Declaration of Independence and later parts of the Constitution.

Baron de Montesquieu introduced the idea of separating government power into three branches—legislative, executive, and judicial—so that no one group could become too powerful. This structure helped shape the U.S. Constitution.

       

Jean-Jacques Rousseau believed that governments should follow the will of the people. He wrote that people should help make laws and decisions, and that government should serve the common good. His ideas helped support the development of democracy.

The Iroquois Confederacy and Colonial Unity

Long before the American colonies united, Indigenous nations in North America had already built systems of government. The Iroquois Confederacy, or Haudenosaunee, was a union of six nations in the Northeast. They formed a council where each nation chose leaders to represent them. These leaders came together to make decisions about trade, war, and peace while still respecting the independence of each nation.

The Confederacy was based on cooperation, discussion, and mutual respect. Decisions required agreement, and leaders were expected to act for the good of the people. This model of representative government impressed some colonial leaders, including Benjamin Franklin, who saw it as an example for how the 13 colonies could unite.

       

The idea that separate groups could work together while keeping their own identities helped shape early discussions about forming a united but balanced government.

A New System Built on Old Ideas

When the U.S. Constitution was written, it was shaped by a variety of earlier ideas and systems. The new government was designed as a representative democracy, where officials are chosen to speak and act on behalf of the people. Power was divided into branches of government to prevent any one group from having too much control. The system was built with the idea that laws apply to everyone, including leaders, and that citizens have basic rights the government should protect—such as freedom of speech, a fair trial, and protections when accused of a crime. Through elections, the people choose their leaders, which helps ensure the government is responsible to the citizens. In addition, the government was created as a collection of states working together through a system of federalism, where power is shared between national and state governments. Although the U.S. system was new, it reflected long-standing ideas about leadership, cooperation, and individual freedom.

Source: Foundations of American Government – Influences and Ideas
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