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