What guarantee in the English Bill of Rights was especially important to the English Colonies??

Question

history question cant find the answer too. Would really appreciate the help

Answer 1

The starting place is to read though the English Bill of Rights. View the text here:
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/england.htm

There are TWO places that reflect on the "rights" of Englishmen (and therefore of the American colonists).

The first is indirect -- a list of the abuses alleged against King James II (14 of them). This immediately follows the preamble (introductory paragraph). By the way, you should compare this list with the "list of abuses" that form the main part of the Declaration of Independence. (In fact, the Declaration is largely MODELED on the English Bill of Rights, serving as an explanation of why a particular king's rule has been rejected.)

The second, following two intervening paragraphs is a reassertion of Parliamentary and English rights -- 13 specific items are listed. Several of these overlap with the first list (since it lays out specific VIOLATIONS of these rights).

I suspect this second one is the list you want, and that you'll be able to find the answer needed for your assignment in this list (compare your textbook or readings). I am not absolutely certain which one they have in mind, but perhaps it is the following -- since it was Britain's maintaining troops in American cities AFTER the French and Indian War ended (and taxing the colonists for their support), and esp the military presence in Boston in 1774-5 that set the stage for the war

"That the raising or keeping a standing army within the kingdom in time of peace, unless it be with consent of Parliament, is against law"

The other possibility I see is more general -- the point of the first two rights listed, that the King does NOT have the right to suspend laws and their execution. This would parallel what happened under the "Intolerable Acts" when the king suspended the legislature of Massachusetts, took the right to try certain cases out of its courts, and made the royal governor answerable only to the king (who was no longer to be paid by the colonial legislature).

Answer 2

Freedom of religion? That's why the folks on the Mayflower came here. I will defer to the below answer... AND vote for it.