Important Documents

Documents
Welcome to the Virginia Studies Important Documents page. Here you will find information and interesting links for each document that we study in Virginia Studies.

The Charter
Granted to the Virginia Company of London. This charter was granted by King James I. It gave the Virginia Company permission to establish a colony in North America. The charter provided instructions for the colonists once they arrived in North America. It also extended English Rights to the colonists.

The Virginia Company Charter

 

The Virginia Declaration of Rights
This document was written by George Mason. it became the basis of the Bill of Rights which is the first ten amendments to the constitution of the United States of America. This declaration stated that Virginians should have the right to freedom of speech (press), and the freedom of religion.


The Virginia Declaration of Rights

 

The Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom
This Document was written by Thomas Jefferson. It states that Virginians should have freedom of religion. The Statute of Religious freedom was very influential in creating the Constitution of the United States and is a key idea in the 1st amendment.

Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom

 

The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson. It gave reasons for independence from English rule. It also stated that all men are created equal and  have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.


The Declaration of Independence

 

The Constitution of the United States
This is the basis for our nations government. It was written after the American revolution and influenced by the Virginia Declaration of Rights writtem by George Mason and the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom written by Thomas Jefferson. Another contributer to the Constitution was James Madison. His skills at compromise and detailed not-taking helped to form our nation’s Constitution.

The Constitution of the USA