Which historical document laid the groundwork for the concept of individual rights in the U.S.?

The Magna Carta is a seminal document in the development of individual rights, particularly in relation to limiting the power of the monarchy and establishing certain legal protections for subjects. Signed in 1215, it represented a landmark moment in affirming that the king was not above the law and that his subjects had rights that must be respected. The concepts introduced in the Magna Carta, such as the right to a fair trial and protection against unlawful imprisonment, significantly influenced later democratic ideas, including those enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Though the Constitution is foundational for U.S. governance and outlines the framework and structure of the government, it was the Magna Carta that initially laid the groundwork for the idea of individual rights, which the Founding Fathers drew upon when establishing the U.S. legal and political systems. The Articles of Confederation focused primarily on governance structure rather than individual rights, and the Mayflower Compact, while important for self-governance, did not articulate individual rights in the same way the Magna Carta did.