The metropolis forbade North America colonies to trade certain goods among themselves and prevented trade relations with other European countries, enshrined in the Navigation Act of 1651. Magra and Edelson (2018) note that as a result, goods entered the markets of the colonies only from England, and manufactured goods could only be sold in the metropolis. Moreover, in 1765, the Stamp Act was adopted, the essence of which was that when buying any product and drawing up any document, an American had to pay tax to the English treasury. Thus, the cause of the adoption of both documents was the desire of Britain to dominate the colonies in economic and political aspects. As for the consequences, the colonies became completely dependent on Britain, which oppressed the rights of the native population and resulted in civil unrest and revolution. Each of these documents made a significant contribution to anti-British sentiment, but the Navigation Act is more significant because it contributed to England’s primacy in trade and industry.
An outstanding role in the development of American democracy and constitutionalism was played by the Declaration of Independence of 1776. According to OpenStax (2019), its preamble reflects the fundamental ideas of the Enlightenment. Among them are the equality of all people before the law and their inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, the social contract as a source of political power, and the right of the people to the revolutionary overthrow of a despotic government. This document had a great influence on the entire course of the development of American constitutionalism, and the political and legal consciousness of the American people.
The colleague preferred to analyze the meaning of the United States Constitution 1787 and The Bill of Rights. The difference between our choice is that the documents I have chosen are the prerequisites for the development of the American Revolution. In turn, the choice of a colleague is connected with the consequences of the revolution and the formation of U.S. constitutionalism. Moreover, the Navigation Act of 1651 and the Stamp Act contributed to the development of British colonialism. On the contrary, the adoption of the United States Constitution of 1787 and The Bill of Rights contributed to the formation and development of American statehood. Adopting these documents meant the final consolidation of the American Revolution in political structures, as it received powerful legal fixation and support.
References
Magra, C. P., & Edelson S. M. (2018). The new map of Empire: How Britain imagined America before independence. The American Historical Review, 123(2), 573–574. Web.
OpenStax. (2019). U.S. history. OpenStax CNX. Web.