The U.S. Constitution did not appear out of nowhere; many earlier ideas and documents influenced it. These documents talked about rights, self-government, limits on power, and how people and governments should relate to each other: 

• Declaration of Independence inspired ideas of individual rights and government by consent.  

• Articles of Confederation was America’s first national government (failed because it was too weak). 

• Federalist Papers showed weaknesses that the Constitution fixed.  

• Anti-Federalist Papers pushed for Bill of Rights.  

• Virginia Declaration of Rights inspired rights protections.  

• Fundamental Orders of Connecticut was an early version of the constitution.  

• Mayflower Compact showed self-government principle.  

• Iroquois Great Law of Peace inspired sharing power between central government and states.