Randa Abdelfattah

When the founders wrote the Eighth Amendment, they had a lot on their minds. They were building a completely new government. But they were also still very much influenced by continental Europe and by England. Because even there, things had been changing.

When the founders wrote the Eighth Amendment, they had a lot on their minds. They were building a completely new government. But they were also still very much influenced by continental Europe and by England. Because even there, things had been changing.

When the founders wrote the Eighth Amendment, they had a lot on their minds. They were building a completely new government. But they were also still very much influenced by continental Europe and by England. Because even there, things had been changing.

England in the late 1600s, a century before the U.S. was founded.

England in the late 1600s, a century before the U.S. was founded.

England in the late 1600s, a century before the U.S. was founded.

The king's own nephew, the Duke of Monmouth, a Protestant, wanted to overthrow him. So in the summer of 1685, he gathered a few thousand men It would be known as the Monmouth Rebellion. The rebels won a few small battles, but were ultimately defeated by the Royal Army.

The king's own nephew, the Duke of Monmouth, a Protestant, wanted to overthrow him. So in the summer of 1685, he gathered a few thousand men It would be known as the Monmouth Rebellion. The rebels won a few small battles, but were ultimately defeated by the Royal Army.

The king's own nephew, the Duke of Monmouth, a Protestant, wanted to overthrow him. So in the summer of 1685, he gathered a few thousand men It would be known as the Monmouth Rebellion. The rebels won a few small battles, but were ultimately defeated by the Royal Army.

The Duke of Monmouth was led to the Tower of London, where he was executed. Then a series of trials began.

The Duke of Monmouth was led to the Tower of London, where he was executed. Then a series of trials began.

The Duke of Monmouth was led to the Tower of London, where he was executed. Then a series of trials began.

Hundreds were executed.

Hundreds were executed.

Hundreds were executed.

The bloody assizes only added to the fear and hatred that many in England already had for King James II. And a few years later, he was overthrown in what's known today as the Glorious Revolution, in which the king's own men deserted him, leaving him to flee the country and die in exile. The seeds of democracy in England had been sown.

The bloody assizes only added to the fear and hatred that many in England already had for King James II. And a few years later, he was overthrown in what's known today as the Glorious Revolution, in which the king's own men deserted him, leaving him to flee the country and die in exile. The seeds of democracy in England had been sown.

The bloody assizes only added to the fear and hatred that many in England already had for King James II. And a few years later, he was overthrown in what's known today as the Glorious Revolution, in which the king's own men deserted him, leaving him to flee the country and die in exile. The seeds of democracy in England had been sown.

The English Bill of Rights was established by Parliament, outlining civil rights and limiting the power of the monarchy. Included was language that would show up in the U.S. Bill of Rights more than 100 years later.

The English Bill of Rights was established by Parliament, outlining civil rights and limiting the power of the monarchy. Included was language that would show up in the U.S. Bill of Rights more than 100 years later.