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Influences from English Government
Influenced by English government, settlers brought history of limited government
English Traditions 1215 Magna Charta-
placed limits on kings power, right to jury trial, equality under law
Advisors to king eventually became Parliament (a representative, lawmaking body)
1689 English Bill of Rights
English Bill of Rights
1) Parliament supreme power2) Monarch had to summon Parliament
regularly3) Parliament had power over money4) Monarch could not interfere with
Parliament5) Guaranteed trial by jury 6) Principle of habeas corpus- person
could not be held in jail unless charged with specific crime
Other English Traditions
Common Law and Precedent No written laws in early England Custom had force of law System based on precedent and custom- common
law
Courts decisions became basis of laws Judges decided cases, used precedent (ruling from an
earlier case that was similar) to make consistent ruling
Other English Traditions Equity Law- system of rules to
resolve disputes on fairness Statutory Law- based on laws
made by legislative bodies
Bringing English Heritage to America
Representative Government 1600’s, 1700’s English
settlers bring political traditions to colonies
Charters- gave colonists right to est. governments, guaranteed colonists rights of Englishmen
1619 House of Burgesses 1st representative assembly in America
1620- Mayflower Compact set up government with majority rule, established direct democracy in America
Bringing English Heritage to America
Town Meetings• Tradition of direct democracy• Citizens held meeting to discuss problems
and issues Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
• Americas first written constitution• Called fro an assembly of elected leaders to
make laws, called for the election of judges and governor
Bringing English Heritage to America
Philosophical Influences Locke’s idea of natural rights The idea of the social contract
• Agreement among the people of a society to give up some of their freedom in exchange to have their natural rights protected by a government
Separation of Powers • government was divided into three branches so one
group or person could not have too much power Ideas of the Enlightenment
• Human reason and universal laws (i.e. natural rights) applied to human government and society
Birth of a Democratic NationColonial Resistance to
Rebellion Separated from Great Britain
by an ocean, American developed tradition of self government
By 1733 all 13 colonies had own government Governor, legislature
Colonies began to make more of their own decisions w/o help from Britain
Mid 1750’s British policies change, took a more active role in lives of American colonists
Birth of a Democratic Nation
• After French & Indian War, Britain places taxes on colonies to pay for war
• Stamp Act• “No taxation without
representation!”• Colonies boycotted, led to beginning
of end to British rule• Declaratory Act (1766) British
could make all decisions for colonies• Townshend Acts (1767) Glass, tea,
lead, paper• Colonists boycott• Tea Act of 1773 led to Boston Tea
Party• 1773 Coercive or Intolerable
Acts- restricted legal rights, allowed British soldiers to search homes
Birth of a Democratic Nation
Movement Toward Independence Colonists band together against
Intolerable Acts First Continental Congress
• 1774, 12 colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia
• establish political body to represent American interests and challenge British control
Sent a document to King George III demanding rights of colonists be restored, extend boycott
Birth of a Democratic Nation King George responded
with force War begins in Mass. Colonists question British
loyalty People talk about
independence 1775 Second
Continental Congress Common Sense by
Thomas Paine published, provided rationale for independence
January 1776 called for complete independence
Birth of a Democratic Nation
Congress appoints committee to write a document to announce the colonists independence
Thomas Jefferson main writer Declaration of Independence –
A. rights of individualsB. purpose of gov’t to protect people’s rightsC. Gov’t based on people’s consentD. People entitled to overthrow gov’tE. Abuses of King George III
July 4, 1776 approved by Continental Congress
1782 Americans defeat British
Inspiration for Ideas of Declaration of Independence
Inspired by Enlightenment ideas, questioned traditional roles of government and society
John Locke1. People had natural rights-
life, liberty, property2. Gov’t has obligation to
people3. Best government is limited4. Idea of popular
sovereignty- freely elected government