Final answer:
The settlers of the 13 colonies based their laws on English legal systems, incorporating traditions of common law, self-government, and respect for natural rights which led to the American Revolution and the establishment of the U.S. Constitution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The settlers of the 13 colonies created laws based on English legal systems. These legal systems were a key part of English tradition, encompassing commonly held English viewpoints about politics, religion, and the economy. Part of this tradition was the practice of implementing common law, which is a system of law based on court precedents and judicial rulings rather than solely on written statutes.
The colonial governments mirrored the British structure with various adaptations that suited their local needs. They included similar roles such as a governor reflecting the king, councils or assemblies mirroring the British Parliament, and judiciaries that operated like the British courts. The mix of English traditions, along with the principles of self-government, led to the development of local governments that recognized natural rights and promoted religious tolerance and moral standards. Additionally, these governments adopted similar functions and responsibilities, including local taxation, defense, public health, and probate.
Over time, the colonists' pride in their English liberties and self-governance grew into a desire for independence when they felt these liberties were threatened. This accumulation of principles and traditions from the English legal system and the colonists' application thereof set the stage for the eventual drafting of the U.S. Constitution and the establishment of American independence.