Our Political BeginningsU.S. Government Chapter 2 – Section 1

Political Dictionary

Limited government Representative

government

Magna Carta

Petition of Right

English Bill of Rights

Charter Bicameral Proprietary Unicameral

Objectives/Standards

Section Objectives: Identify three basic concepts of government in

the English colonies Explain the significance of the following

landmark English documents: The Magna Carta, the Petition of Right, the English Bill of Rights

Describe three types of colonies that the English established in North America

5.2 Understand specific historical documents and institutions which shaped the U.S. Constitutuion.

Basic Concepts of Government

The earliest English settlers brought a knowledge of a political system which they brought from England.

The English had some influence on their political system from Africa and Asia.

Ancient Romans left behind a legacy of law, religion, and custom to the people.

Ordered Government

The first English colonists created local governments based on what they had known from England.

The offices and units that are still with us today are: sheriff, coroner, assessor, justice of the peace, grand jury, counties, townships, etc.

Limited Government

They also brought with them the idea that government is limited in what it can do, and each person has rights. Limited Government

This idea was practiced in England 400 years before Jamestown was settled in 1607.

Representative Government

Representative Government- government should serve the will of people.

People should have a voice in deciding what government should and should not do.

Landmark English Documents

The basic ideas of order, limited, and representative governments can be traced back to several English documents.

The Magna Carta (1215)

King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta (The Great Charter) by a group of barons.

The barons were looking for protection against acts they did not approve of by the king.

The Magna Carta included: trial by jury, due process of law, protection against taking of life, liberty, or property.

Over time this became the rights of all English people.

The Magna CartaBritish Library

The Petition of Right (1628) In 1628, Charles I asked Parliament for

more money for taxes. They make him sign a Petition of Right first.

Petition of Right challenged the idea of the divine right of kings and declared that even monarchs were subject to the laws of the land.

It demanded the king no longer imprison or punish any person but by lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land.

The Petition of RightParliamentary Archives, London

The English Bill of Rights

The crown was offered to William and Mary of Orange.

English Bill of Rights- A List drawn up by Parliament which had to be followed to prevent abuse of power for future monarchs

It prohibited a standing army in peacetime, except with the consent of Parliament, and required that all parliamentary elections be free.

It guaranteed right to a fair trial, freedom from excessive bail, and cruel and unusual punishment.

English Bill of RightsNational Archives of the U.K.

Question 1

What principles do the Magna Carta, the Petition of Right, and the English Bill of Rights have in common?

The English Colonies

The 13 colonies were established separately over a span of 125 years.

Each had its own character.

Virginia was organized as a commercial venture, Mass. people were looking for religious freedom, GA was a place searching rescue from England’s harsh laws.

Each colony was est. on basis of a charter, a written grant of authority from the king.

Royal Colonies

Royal Colonies were subject to direct control of king. The king named a governor to serve as the colony’s

chief executive.

Bicameral- two house

A council helped the governor. The governors council became the upper house of the colonial legislature.

The lower house was elected by property owners.

The Proprietary Colonies

Proprietary Colonies- colonies organized by a proprietor. (a person the king made a grant of land)

That land could be settled and governed much as the proprietor chose.

The governor of these 3 colonies was appointed by the proprietor.

Unicameral- one house. Pennsylvania had a unicameral

legislature.

The Charter Colonies

Connecticut and Rhode Island Based on charters granted to the

land by the King. Governors were elected by white,

male property owners. Judges in charter colonies were

appointed by legislature.

Question 2

The English Crown gave Connecticut and Rhode Island many freedoms not enjoyed by other colonies. Do you agree with historians who say that the Revolution may have never happened if all colonies enjoyed the same freedoms?

Why or why not? (Write at lease two paragraphs)

Question 3

Who had the most political influence on our form of government?

A. Indians B. English Settlers C. Egyptians

Question 4

The idea that government is limited in what it can do, and each person has rights.

A. Representative Government B. Democracy C. Limited Government

Question 5

A document signed by King John that involved trial by jury, due process of law, protection against taking of life, liberty, or property.

A. Petition of Rights B. Magna Carta C. English Bill of Rights

Question 6

Challenged the idea of the divine right of kings and declared that even monarchs were subject to the laws of the land.

A. English Bill of Rights B. Magna Carta C. Petition of Right

Question 7

This type of colony was subject to direct control of king.

A. Proprietary B. Royal C. Charter