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The Magna Carta Signed by King John of England in 1215 Placed monarchs and magistrates under rule of law Established English common law Influenced the Fifth Amendment
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Influences on the ConstitutionInfluences on the Constitution
Foundations: Greece and Rome
• Democratic elements of ancient Greek civilization
• Aristotle’s classification of government
• The ancient Roman Republic
A Roman tribune presiding over a council of citizens
The Magna Carta
• Signed by King John of England in 1215
• Placed monarchs and magistrates under rule of law
• Established English common law
• Influenced the Fifth Amendment
Thomas Hobbes• Leviathan (1651)• Discusses the origin of
centralized government• Explains the “social
contract” theory• Early humans gave up a
“state of nature” for government’s protection
The cover of Leviathan depicts government as an unruly monster
John Locke• Two Treatises of Government
(1689)• “Natural rights” to “life,
liberty, and property”• Government responsible for
protecting the people’s rights
• The people have the right to change their government
John Locke
Montesquieu
• The Spirit of the Laws (1748)
• Classified government into three types:–Monarchies– Republics– Despotisms
• Developed the concept of separation of powers Charles de Secondat,
Baron de Montesquieu
Albany Plan of Union
• Proposed in 1754 by Benjamin Franklin
• Early attempt at uniting colonies
• Based in part on Iroquois Confederacy
• Never adopted, but served as a rough draft for Articles and Constitution
Benjamin Franklin’s famous “Join Or Die” cartoon, published to support the Albany
Plan of Union
The Declaration of Independence
• Thomas Jefferson (1776)• Does not institute a
government• Borrowed heavily from
Locke’s concepts of natural rights
• Designates government as protector of these rights
Thomas Jefferson