- Magna Carta: 1215; Established the principle that everyone, including the king, is subject to the law. It laid the groundwork for constitutional government and individual rights.
- Petition of Right: 1628; Asserted that the monarch could not imprison subjects without cause, levy taxes without Parliament’s consent, or house soldiers in private homes. It reinforced limits on royal power.
- Bill of Rights: 1689; Guaranteed Parliament’s supremacy over the monarchy, affirmed regular elections, free speech in Parliament, and the right to petition. It established a constitutional monarchy.
- Massachusetts Bay Colony: 1630; Founded by Puritans seeking religious freedom; established a self-governing colony with elected assemblies.
- Connecticut: 1636; Founded by Thomas Hooker; adopted the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, considered one of the first written constitutions in America.
- Rhode Island: 1636; Founded by Roger Williams; emphasized religious tolerance and separation of church and state.
- New York: 1624 (Dutch), 1664 (English); Originally New Netherland; became an English colony after capture; known for diverse population and trade.
- Pennsylvania: 1681; Founded by William Penn as a haven for Quakers; promoted religious freedom and democratic principles.
- Maryland: 1634; Founded by Cecil Calvert; established as a refuge for Catholics; later enacted the Toleration Act of 1649.
- Delaware: 1638 (Swedish), 1664 (English); Originally part of New Sweden; became an English colony; known for its agricultural economy.
- New Jersey: 1664; Granted to Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret; divided into East and West Jersey before unification; valued for fertile land.
- Virginia: 1607; First permanent English settlement; developed representative government with the House of Burgesses in 1619.
- North Carolina: 1663; Part of the Carolinas until 1712; known for its backcountry settlers and resistance to centralized authority.
- South Carolina: 1663; Developed a plantation economy based on rice and indigo; had a hierarchical society with a strong slave system.
- Georgia: 1732; Founded by James Oglethorpe as a debtor colony and buffer against Spanish Florida; initially prohibited slavery.
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