The ideas embodied in the Constitution weren't really new ones - they just came from a number of different sources. In this section, we trace down the concepts and people that influenced the framers' thinking.

When in Rome... -- Believe it or not, the Romans had an impact on the creators of the Constitution. Good thing the creators didn't get their fashion sense from them, though.

English Influences -- A majority of the colonists were originally from England, so it makes sense that their English heritage played a role in defining their government.

Colonial Influences -- The things that took place in the colonies that shaped the Constitution. OK, one of them (the Mayflower Compact) was written on a ship at sea, but it falls under this category.

Philosophers -- An Englishman and two Frenchmen. Their ideas heavily influenced the framers' thoughts when drafting the Constitution.