Chapter 2: Roots of American Democracy

Week 4

Roots of Am. Government

Enlightenment: Period during 16/1700’s where people began to use science and reason to question many institutions of society

Monarch: King or Queen ruling a country, typical form of leadership for European nations at this time. Usually held absolute or near absolute powerDuring Enlightenment, many began to question

the legitimacy of a monarch in power. Restrictions (England) & Revolutions (France) would take place.

Roots of Am. Government

Parliament: British legislative (lawmaking) body. Gained power from King in England through 1600’s.English Bill of Rights/Glorious Revolution of 1688/89

established powers of Parliament in writing that King could not take away

Common Law: laws develop out of traditions and previous court rulings, rather than laws made by the legislature

Chapter 2 Key Terms

Ordered Government: Has structure, people have positions (President, Congress, etc…)

Limited Government: There are limits on what government can do, people have rights that cannot be taken away

Representative Government: Government should serve the will of the people (people have a voice in govt)

English Roots of Government

Rule of law: All people, even the King, must obey the lawMagna Carta (1215): King John of England

signed guaranteeing the people basic rights

Limited Government: The power of the King has limits, not all powerful

Individual Rights: rights the people have that can’t be taken away by govt.

Documents Influencing Early Government

Magna Carta: 1215

(England)Barons vs. King John

Petition of Right: 1628

(England)Parliament and Charles I

English Bill of Rights: 1688

EnglandParliament and Will/Mary of

OrangeTrial by jury for political critics (1st Amend. Speech and 6th Amend.)

Can’t rule by force

No quartering of soldiers (3rd Amend.)

Monarchs must obey law of land (Constitution)

Trial by jury (6th Amend.)

Due process of law (5th Amend.)

Later, All people, not just privileged protected (14th Amend.)

Power of monarch not absolute (limited by the document)

Fair Speedy Trial (6th Amend.)

Parliament approves changes to laws (Art. 1, Sec. 8 Powers of Congress)

Freedom from excessive bail (8th Amend.)

No cruel and unusual punishment (8th Amend.)

Free elections

Borrowed from English Enlightenment

Natural Rights: rights that people have by being born human and not government can take awayLife, liberty, property

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~John Locke: English writer who supported the idea

of natural rights/social contract when government is not protective of the rights of its citizens

Social Contract: People have natural rights that cannot be taken from the by the governmentContract: people give up some freedom, to govt Govt protects the people’s rights/safety

If govt breaks contract, people can?????

Problems w/Britain

1765 - Stamp Act: Tax on any written documentStamp Act Congress: 9 colonies sent Delegates

(representatives) to meet and write formal protest to KingDeclaration of Rights and Grievances

Acts eventually Repealed (removed)

Tea Act: Could only purchase tea from British East India Company

Boston Tea Party – Dec 16, 1773

Colonial Protest of the Tea Acts

Intolerable Acts

Passed as punishment for Boston Tea party and other protests

1. Closed Boston Harbor (no trade)

2. No more govt meetings

3. Criminal trials in Britain (no fair trial)

4. Forced Colonists to shelter troops

The Colonists Respond

1st Continental Congress(1774)

To respond to Britain’s passage of Intolerable Acts

Colonists urged to boycott (refuse to buy/trade) with Britain

Set up the Second Continental Congress

2nd Continental Congress (1775) Revolution War already begun

All 13 colonies sent delegates

Unicameral Congress, John Hancock elected as President of the Congress

Fought war, raised & paid army, made treaties

Legislative & Executive power (could make and enforce laws)

Declaration of IndependenceJuly 4, 1776 •Declared

Independence from England

•Officially created the United States of America

•Claimed England had broken Social Contract