Answer: Historical Documents
The historical documents that likely appealed to the colonists were the Magna Carta, The English Bill of Rights, and The Commentaries on the Laws of England¹. The features of these documents that would be the most appealing to the colonists would be the aspects on their rights¹. These rights would include their:
- The right to freedom¹
- The right to own properties¹
- The right to life¹
- Natural rights¹
These would most appeal to the colonists because it would establish that they were not just subjects that did not have a say even in their own lives¹. Each of these documents limited the government's power while granting more rights to the people². As the colonists moved away from the British crown and established their own governments, they were likely drawn to the idea that rulers were subject to the law and that people had certain rights that would be protected². They also would have wanted a fair and consistent legal system in place². These three important English documents served as a direct influence to the founding fathers of the United States, and inspired them to write the Declaration of Independence, promulgated on July 4, 1776, and also the US Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, drafted by James Madison¹.