Chapter 4 section 1 Governing the Colonies. Chapter 4 section 1 Magna Carta

Chapter 4 section 1

Governing the Colonies

Chapter 4 section 1

• Magna Carta

Chapter 4 section 1

• Magna Carta– The king has to follow

the law

Chapter 4 section 1

• Magna Carta– The king has to follow

the law – Right to own property – Everyone has the right to

a trial by jury

Chapter 4 section 1

• Magna Carta– The king has to follow

the law – Right to own property – Everyone has the right to

a trial by jury

• Lead to the formation of Parliament

Chapter 4 section 1

• Parliament– Starts as “Great Council”

Chapter 4 section 1

• Parliament– Starts as “Great Council”– Two-house legislature

Chapter 4 section 1

• Parliament– Starts as “Great Council”– Two-house legislature

Chapter 4 section 1

• Parliament– Starts as “Great Council”– Two-house legislature– No king could raise

taxes without Parliaments' permission

Chapter 4 section 1

In the 1640s, power struggles between King Charles I and Parliament led to the English Civil War.

Parliamentary forces eventually won the war, executed the king, and briefly ruled England.

King Charles I Parliament

The Glorious Revolution

• 1688– King James II is kicked

out of power

The Glorious Revolution

• 1688– King James II is kicked

out of power– Put his daughter Mary

and he husband William in power

The Glorious Revolution

• 1689– King James II is kicked

out of power– Put his daughter Mary

and he husband William in power

– Signed the English Bill of Rights

The English Bill of Rights:

• restated many of the rights granted by the Magna Carta.

• upheld habeas corpus.

• required that Parliament meet regularly.

The legal rights that Englishmen had won over the centuries led the colonists to expect a voice in their government.

By 1760, every British colony in North America had a legislature of some kind, although the legislatures sometimes clashed with the colonial governors appointed by the king.

Colonial GovernorsAppointed by

the King

Colonial Legislatures

Most were elected

Freedom of the Press

Freedom of the Press

• John Peter Zenger– Newspaper Publisher

• Printed articles speaking out against the governor

Freedom of the Press

• John Peter Zenger– Newspaper Publisher

• Printed articles speaking out against the governor

– Arrested for libel

Freedom of the Press

• John Peter Zenger– Newspaper Publisher

• Printed articles speaking out against the governor

– Arrested for libel – Won the case because

his articles were based on facts

Freedom of the Press

Terms and People

• legislature – a group of people who have the power to make laws

• bill of rights – a written list of freedoms that a government promises to protect

• habeas corpus – the principle that a person cannot be held in prison without being charged with a specific crime

• freedom of the press – the right of journalists to publish the truth without restriction or penalty

• libel – the publishing of statements that damage a person’s reputation