Roots of Democratic Government

Judeo-Christian TraditionThe Greco-Roman Tradition

English Parliamentary Traditions

Roots of Democratic Government

American Democracy was influenced

by the Middle East

by the great civilizations of Greece and Rome

by the system of government developed in Britain

Judeo-Christian Tradition

• Traditions expressed basic moral and spiritual values

• Judaism = faith of ancient Hebrews; the heart of the Jewish religion = Ten Commandments

• Christianity - emerged from Judaism 2000 years ago; honors Jesus; believes that all people are created equally in eyes of God

• This influenced the Declaration of Independence 1776

Greco-Roman Traditions (slide 1)

Greek Influences:

Direct Democracy =Popular Sovereigntya system of gov’t where ordinary citizens make decisions by voting

Responsible citizens follow laws

Trial by Jury is a guaranteed right (Jury = a panel of citizens who make judgments at a trial)

Greco-Roman Traditions (slide 2)

Roman Traditions:

Republic = the citizens choose their representatives to make laws

Belief that everyone is equal before the law

Belief that the accused is innocent until proven guilty

English Parliamentary Traditions

Middle Ages = period in Europe from the Fall of Rome to 1400

England’s form of gov’t = individuals have certain rights

Three main influences on US gov’t:

1. Magna Carta

2. English Parliament

3. English Bill of Rights

Magna Carta

1215 Nobles forced England’s king to sign

Limited king’s powers to tax w/o consulting the people

Protected rights of people to own property and guaranteed right to trial by jury

Rights first granted to nobles and eventually citizens; the king had to obey the laws

Parliament

Council to advise king formed under Magna Carta

Greatest power =right to approve new taxes (king needed Parliament’s consent)

Legislation = group of people w/ power to make laws

Two-house legislation formed

English Bill of Rights

Bill of Rights = a written list of freedoms for citizens that the gov’t protects

English Bill of Rights (1688) followed & supported much of Magna Carta

Habeas Corpus = a person can’t be held in prison w/o being charged w/ a crime

How well were you listening?

Give one example of Roman influence and one example of Greek influence on US gov’t today.

How did Christianity and Judaism influence our country?

What do the terms republic, popular sovereignty, and Habeas Corpus mean?

What does a jury do? What does right to a trial by jury mean?

How did the Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights influence our gov’t?

Early Settlers and Pre-Revolutionary War

Early Explorers 20,000-60,000 years

ago-Native Americans cross Bering Strait

1492-Columbus & Spanish Conquistadors

1524-French Explorers

1500’s Portuguese

1600’s English

Seeds of Exchange

Horse

Disease

Corn

Potato

Sugar

Early Settlers 1585-Roanoke

(unsuccessful colony)

1607-Jamestown(first successful colony thanks to indentured servants-tobacco = $$$ for English investors)

1620-Pilgrims(came for religious freedom)Mayflower Compact= “Just & equal laws”

Late 1600’s-Puritans Salem Witch Trials

Puritan Work Ethic

Colonial Regions New England Colonies (northern) had land difficult to

farm (subsistence farming existed); center of shipbuilding and trade

Middle Colonies: “Bread Basket” - farming (cash crops) and shipping

Southern Colonies – plantation economy (very large farms) depended on slavery; cotton, tobacco, rice, indigo

England passed laws that controlled colonial trade

An Emerging American Identity 1730’2-1740’s – Great Awakening (religious revival)

Preacher Jonathon Edwards “commit to God”

Early1700’s: Salutary Neglect (colonial self governing & England’s focus elsewhere)

Freedom of the Press (criticism of government)

Period of Enlightenment used scientific reason, observation, and experiments to open minds

Enlightenment expands to Politics Applied reason to politics

John Locke (English philosopher) proposed natural rights (belong to everyone from birth): life, liberty & property; believed rights came from God not gov’t;

gov’t should protect these rights, and if a monarch violates these rights, people could overthrow monarch!

Baron de Montesquieu (French philosopher) –Separation of Powers: division of power of gov’t into

separate branches; legislative, executive and judicial

*By 1770’s most Americans believed they were born with natural rights; Ben Franklin- colonial Enlightenment thinker!!!

Things Change in America

• 1756-1763-French and Indian War • (aka Seven Year’s War)

• 1763-Treaty of Paris (England defeats French and gains land)

• England needs money to pay war debt leading to taxing Americans leading to serious protests & dissention

Building Tension Between England and the Colonies

1763-Proclamation of 1763 1765-Quartering Act & Stamp Act 1766-Stamp Act Failed 1767-Townshend Acts 1770-Boston Massacre & Parliament

repeals Townshend Acts 1772-Committee of Correspondence

formed by Samuel Adams 1773-Tea Act & Boston Tea Party 1774-Intolerable Acts First Continental Congress formed

War Erupts!!! Minutemen = soldiers

ready to form quickly

April 1775-Lexington & Concord

Second Continental Congress soon names George Washington as commander of Continental Army

THE END