Post on 19-Jan-2016
By the time the first colonists reached North America, the idea that government was not all-powerful had become an accepted part of the
English system
Magna CartaMagna Carta
The Great Charter, King John forced to sign in 1215. This document established the principle
of limited government
Limited government- the power of the monarch or government was
limited, not absolute
The Magna Carta provided protection The Magna Carta provided protection against unjust punishment and the loss of against unjust punishment and the loss of life, liberty, and property except according life, liberty, and property except according
to the law.to the law.
1215 1620 1628 1636 1639 1688 1690
POLITICAL DOCUMENTS AFFECTING LIFE IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES
The Magna Carta: power of the king
limited
In 1628 Parliament representatives force the In 1628 Parliament representatives force the king to sign the Petition of Right, severely limiting king to sign the Petition of Right, severely limiting
the king’s powerthe king’s power
No longer could the English monarch No longer could the English monarch collect taxes without Parliament’s consent, collect taxes without Parliament’s consent, imprison people without just cause, house imprison people without just cause, house
troops in private homes without the troops in private homes without the permission of the owner, or declare martial permission of the owner, or declare martial
law unless the country was at warlaw unless the country was at war
1215 1620 1628 1636 1639 1688 1690
POLITICAL DOCUMENTS AFFECTING LIFE IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES
The Magna Carta: power of the king
limited
The Petition of Right: Monarch could not
collect taxes without Parliament’s consent
1688 Parliament removed James II from the throne and crowned William III and Mary II. This
peaceful removal of power was called the Glorious Revolution.
#1 Monarchs do not have a divine right to rule. (They rule with the consent of the people’s
representatives in Parliament)
“God and my right”
#4 The people have a right to petition the #4 The people have a right to petition the government and have a fair and speedy trial by a government and have a fair and speedy trial by a
jury of their peers.jury of their peers.
#5 The people should not 5 The people should not be subject to cruel and be subject to cruel and unusual punishments or unusual punishments or to excessive fines and to excessive fines and
bail.bail.
A major cause of the American Revolution was A major cause of the American Revolution was that the colonists felt they were being deprived of that the colonists felt they were being deprived of
these basic rights.these basic rights.
1215 1620 1628 1636 1639 1688 1690
POLITICAL DOCUMENTS AFFECTING LIFE IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES
The Magna Carta: power of the king
limited
The Petition of Right: Monarch could not
collect taxes without Parliament’s consent
English Bill of Rights: Monarch has no
“divine right” to rule; document set limits on what a ruler could and
could not do
Limited Government Representative Government
Definition Definition
The power of the ruler or government is limited, not all-powerful
How idea was put into practice How idea was put into practice
The people or their representatives in Parliament had to approve taxes; the ruler could not interfere with Parliament; the accused people had the right to a trial by jury; the people could not be subjected to cruel or unusual punishment
TWO IDEAS ABOUT GOVERNMENT FROM AMERICA’S ENGLISH HERITAGE
Two Treatises on Two Treatises on Government Government published published
in 1690. in 1690.
His work is widely read His work is widely read and discussed in both and discussed in both Europe and America.Europe and America.
Locke’s ideas have been called the “textbook of Locke’s ideas have been called the “textbook of the American Revolution”the American Revolution”
Locke reasoned that all people were born free, Locke reasoned that all people were born free, equal, and independent.equal, and independent.
Locke believed that people possessed natural Locke believed that people possessed natural rights to life, liberty, and property at the time rights to life, liberty, and property at the time
they lived in a state of nature, before they lived in a state of nature, before governments were formed.governments were formed.
Locke argued that if a government failed to Locke argued that if a government failed to protect these natural rights, the people could protect these natural rights, the people could
change that government.change that government.
Locke’s ideas were revolutionary in an age when Locke’s ideas were revolutionary in an age when monarchs still claimed they had God-given monarchs still claimed they had God-given
absolute powers.absolute powers.
Locke denied that people were born with an Locke denied that people were born with an obligation to obey their rulersobligation to obey their rulers
Essentially government is legitimate only as long Essentially government is legitimate only as long as people continue to consent to itas people continue to consent to it
Both the Declaration of Both the Declaration of Independence and the Independence and the Constitution, written Constitution, written
nearly a century after nearly a century after Locke lived, reflected Locke lived, reflected Locke’s revolutionary Locke’s revolutionary
ideasideas
1215 1620 1628 1636 1639 1688 1690
POLITICAL DOCUMENTS AFFECTING LIFE IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES
The Magna Carta: power of the king
limited
The Petition of Right: Monarch could not
collect taxes without Parliament’s consent
English Bill of Rights: Monarch has no
“divine right” to rule; document set limits on what a ruler could and
could not do
Two Treatises on Government (John Locke): all people born free, equal, and independent; had right to life, liberty, and
property; could form governments to protect their
rights
Written ConstitutionsWritten Constitutions
Mayflower Compact-Pilgrims Mayflower Compact-Pilgrims signed in 1620 stands as the signed in 1620 stands as the
first example of many colonial first example of many colonial plans for self-governing.plans for self-governing.
1215 1620 1628 1636 1639 1688 1690
POLITICAL DOCUMENTS AFFECTING LIFE IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES
The Magna Carta: power of the king
limited
The Mayflower Compact: colonists choose leaders and
wrote rules to govern themselves
The Petition of Right: Monarch could not
collect taxes without Parliament’s consent
English Bill of Rights: Monarch has no
“divine right” to rule; document set limits on what a ruler could and
could not do
Two Treatises on Government (John Locke): all people born free, equal, and independent; had right to life, liberty, and
property; could form governments to protect their
rights
Great Fundamentals- the Great Fundamentals- the first basic system of laws first basic system of laws in the English Coloniesin the English Colonies
1215 1620 1628 1636 1639 1688 1690
POLITICAL DOCUMENTS AFFECTING LIFE IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES
The Magna Carta: power of the king
limited
The Mayflower Compact: colonists choose leaders and
wrote rules to govern themselves
The Petition of Right: Monarch could not
collect taxes without Parliament’s consent
The Great Fundamentals (Massachusetts constitution): established comprehensive system of laws for colony
English Bill of Rights: Monarch has no
“divine right” to rule; document set limits on what a ruler could and
could not do
Two Treatises on Government (John Locke): all people born free, equal, and independent; had right to life, liberty, and
property; could form governments to protect their
rights
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut-first formal Fundamental Orders of Connecticut-first formal constitution or charter drawn up on American soilconstitution or charter drawn up on American soil
1215 1620 1628 1636 1639 1688 1690
POLITICAL DOCUMENTS AFFECTING LIFE IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES
The Magna Carta: power of the king
limited
The Mayflower Compact: colonists choose leaders and
wrote rules to govern themselves
The Petition of Right: Monarch could not
collect taxes without Parliament’s consent
The Great Fundamentals (Massachusetts constitution): established comprehensive system of laws for colony
Fundamental Orders (Connecticut): People had the right to elect the governor, judges,
and representatives to make laws
English Bill of Rights: Monarch has no
“divine right” to rule; document set limits on what a ruler could and
could not do
Two Treatises on Government (John Locke): all people born free, equal, and independent; had right to life, liberty, and
property; could form governments to protect their
rights
Soon after, other Soon after, other colonies began colonies began
drawing up their own drawing up their own charterscharters
Representative government was an established Representative government was an established tradition in America well before the colonists tradition in America well before the colonists
declared their independence in 1776.declared their independence in 1776.
Separation of Powers-the division of power Separation of Powers-the division of power between the branches of governmentbetween the branches of government
Limited Government Representative Government
Definition Definition
The power of the ruler or government is limited, not all-powerful
The people elect delegates to make laws and conduct government.
How idea was put into practice How idea was put into practice
The people or their representatives in Parliament had to approve taxes; the ruler could not interfere with Parliament; the accused people had the right to a trial by jury; the people could not be subjected to cruel or unusual punishment
Based on John Locke’s ideas that the people possessed natural rights, that they could form a government to protect their rights, that they were not born with an obligation to obey rulers, and that government was legitimate only as long as the people continued to consent to it, the people formed a government with a Parliament that could make and pass laws the ruler had to recognize.
TWO IDEAS ABOUT GOVERNMENT FROM AMERICA’S ENGLISH HERITAGE