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Let's Check These 10 Important Documents That Changed History
Published on May 12, 2024
Credit: Pierre Bamin
As a species, we have been on this Earth for a very long time. And we can affirm one thing: change is the only constant. For better or worse, many crucial moments in our national and global history have been immortalized in documents that are witnesses of our persistent pursuit of progress.
Whether you're a history fan or just curious about the past, delving into history is not only entertaining but also essential for understanding our present . Join us as we revisit these 10 documents that, in one way or another, have changed the world!
Magna Carta (1215)
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Back in the **13th century,** King John of England sealed a document that would change the course of history. This ancient but pivotal document, known as the Magna Carta , paved the way for many other papers and treaties that would shape the field of law for centuries to come.
Among its pioneering features, this document limited the power of the monarchy and proclaimed the principle that everyone was subject to the law, including the king.
Today, there are four original copies of the Magna Carta, two of them kept in the cathedrals of Lincoln and Salisbury , and two others in the British Library in London.
Mayflower Compact (1620)
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In 1620 , after a 2-month journey across the Atlantic , the Mayflower finally arrived in what would become America.
Even while still aboard, the passengers understood the need to establish a form of government once they arrived in the New World. The pilgrims , who then established the Plymouth Colony , signed what we now know as the Mayflower Compact , a document considered by history as an early example of government by the will of the majority in this continent.
While it applied only to male passengers, the Mayflower Compact is regarded as fundamental, as it set the stage for later documents that would embody democratic principles in America.
U.S. Declaration of Independence (1776)
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As many of you already know, on July 4, 1776 , at the Pennsylvania State House (now known as Independence Hall ), delegates from the original Thirteen Colonies adopted a revolutionary document: the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
This key document laid out the reasons why America would no longer accept British colonial rule. Its influence would later inspire similar declarations of independence in many other countries.
The men who set this precedent continue to inspire us in countless ways. Did you know that Thomas Jefferson , the mind behind the Declaration, was just 33 years old when he penned it? Truly amazing!
Treaty of Paris (1783)
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On September 3, 1783 , representatives from the United States and King George III of Great Britain sealed a deal like no other. The historic Treaty of Paris marked the end of the American Revolutionary War, following the victories of George Washington's army over the British forces.
With this Treaty, the American colonies established their freedom and were now officially recognized as sovereign states.
Among many other crucial points, the Treaty of Paris also recognized Americans' right to navigate the Mississippi River, a vital route for commerce that played an essential role in the growth of this country.
Bill of Rights (1791)
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After the establishment of the U.S. Constitution, some worries spread through our land. Many feared the original Constitution didn't cover or protect several individual rights and freedoms. The Bill of Rights came to assuage this concern, and its inclusion was vital to the ratification of the Constitution by the states.
Proposed in 1789 and ratified in 1791, The Bill of Rights was inspired by George Mason's Virginia Declaration of Rights of 1776 and established the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution , which concern fundamental rights for citizens (such as the right to a fair trial, the right to free speech, among many others).
Louisiana Purchase (1803)
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1803, the year the **U.S. received an offer impossible to refuse.** Fifteen million dollars may seem like a lot of money. But not in this story, because for that price, the U.S. would gain a staggering 828,000 square miles of land.
The United States bought the Louisiana Territory from France, then ruled by the legendary Napoleon Bonaparte , for that amount of money, which gives us approximately 18 dollars per square mile.
Robert Livingston and James Monroe, emissaries of President Thomas Jefferson , and Barbé Marbois, the French representative, signed the important treaty on April 30, 1803 , opening many possibilities for America's growth and expansion.
Emancipation Proclamation (1863)
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Abraham Lincoln is a central figure in American history for multiple reasons, with one of his most notable contributions being the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation.
Signed on January 1, 1863 , during the American Civil War , the Emancipation Proclamation changed the legal status of millions. This document was crucial in the process of liberation of enslaved people in the Confederate states , even though its effects were not immediate.
As such, the Proclamation serves as a powerful symbol , standing as a testament to the foundational principles of freedom and equality upon which our nation was built.
Treaty of Versailles (1919)
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When WWI finally ended , the world was clamoring for peace, and one of the most famous peace treaties in history was the Treaty of Versailles.
The Treaty of Versailles, named after the palace where it was signed on June 28, 1919 , marked a major deal between the Allied, other associated powers, and Germany. This historic document of 440 articles, which came into force on January 10, 1920, made some serious demands, including big war reparations.
Even though the Treaty of Versailles aimed for peace and compensation, some historians criticize it for being too severe, and some even say it helped set the stage for World War II.
19th Amendment (1920)
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The 19th Amendment marked a triumph after many years of women's determined fight for the right to vote.
Also known as the Anthony Amendment in honor of Susan B. Anthony, the 19th Amendment was finally ratified in 1920. But it was actually proposed an astonishing 42 years earlier , way back in 1878 .
Prohibiting gender discrimination in voting, this amendment became a major milestone in our country's history, and it was just one of the many rights women won in the following decades.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
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As you probably already know, Eleanor Roosevelt was an important advocate behind the Universal Declaration of Human Rights . Leading a committee of global representatives, she headed the drafting of this groundbreaking document, which was later approved by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948.
One of the most important rights documents in world history, this declaration- comprising 30 articles - establishes certain civil, economic, social, and cultural rights considered fundamental, regardless of "nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or any other status."
