Final answer:
The Magna Carta served as a significant influence on the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, introducing the concept of limited government and individual rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The historical document that served as a significant influence on the drafting of the Declaration of Independence is the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta served as a significant influence on the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, introducing the concept of limited government and individual rights.
The Magna Carta, written in 1215, established the core idea of limited government, or the belief that the monarch's rule was not absolute. It introduced the concept of individual rights and laid the foundation for the idea that the government should be accountable to the people.
Thomas Jefferson, one of the main authors of the Declaration of Independence, was influenced by the ideas of John Locke, whose concept of natural rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, aligned with the principles of the Magna Carta.