The United States Constitution is primarily based on the ideas presented in multiple historical documents, with the most significant being the Articles of Confederation and the Virginia Declaration of Rights. However, it also draws from Enlightenment thinkers, particularly John Locke, whose philosophies on natural rights and government responsibility influenced the Founding Fathers. Moreover, the Magna Carta and various state constitutions played roles in shaping constitutional principles. The Constitution, ratified in 1788, established the framework of U.S. government and enshrined the rule of law, ensuring checks and balances, individual freedoms, and a federal system of governance for future generations.