In order to understand the American Revolution, and the American Bill of Rights , it helps to know the Bill of Rights of 1689. The American colonists only wanted their rights as English subjects. Following the Glorious Revolution of 1688, these were among the new guarantees:
That it is the right of the subjects to petition the king, and all commitments and prosecutions for such petitioning are illegal;

* 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;

* That the subjects which are Protestants may have arms for their defence suitable to their conditions and as allowed by law;

* That election of members of Parliament ought to be free;

* That the freedom of speech and debates or proceedings in Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament;

* That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted;

* The Avalon Project of Yale Law school provides a rich treasury of original documents.
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/17th_century/...

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