Final answer:
The Magna Carta is a crucial historical document that established the idea of limited government and principles of due process, which influenced American political and legal systems, particularly in the U.S. Constitution's Fifth and Sixth Amendments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The assertion that the Magna Carta had nothing to do with American political traditions is not accurate. In fact, the Magna Carta is a seminal document in not only English history but also in the development of democratic principles that influenced American political tradition. Signed by King John in 1215, it established the principle of limited government, indicating that the monarch's power was not absolute. The concepts laid out in the Magna Carta, such as protections for life, liberty, and property, and the right to a trial by jury, were foundational to the development of Western legal systems, including those in the United States. These ideas were echoed in the U.S. Constitution and are especially reflected in the Fifth and Sixth Amendments, which focus on due process rights.
Furthermore, by the time of the American Revolution, English subjects, including those in the North American colonies, had come to see the Magna Carta as a cornerstone of their liberty. The American colonists drew upon its principles in their quest for independence and in framing their own system of governance. In this way, the Magna Carta had a direct and significant impact on the development of American political and legal traditions.