[ 2.1 ] Origins of American Political Ideals

[ 2.1 ] Origins of American Political Ideals Learning Objectives Explain how constitutional government in the United States has been influenced by centuries of political ideas and traditions from England and elsewhere. Analyze the significance of three landmark historical documents to the American system of government. Describe the three types of colonies that the English established in North America and explain why they are important to the study of American government.

[ 2.1 ] Origins of American Political Ideals Key Terms limited government Jamestown representative government King John Magna Carta due process Charles I Petition of Right William and Mary of Orange Glorious Revolution English Bill of Rights King George II charter bicameral proprietary George Calvert, Lord Baltimore William Penn unicameral

Origins of American Constitutional Government The American system of government did not suddenly spring into being with the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Nor was it created by the Framers of the Constitution in 1787. Instead, the beginnings of what was to become the United States can be found in the mid-sixteenth century, when explorers, traders, and settlers first made their way to North America.

Origins of American Constitutional Government Ships such as the Mayflower brought English colonists to North America, where they established governments based on political traditions and ideas from Europe and elsewhere.

Origins of American Constitutional Government Ordered Government Limited Government Representative Government

Origins of American Constitutional Government The English settlers brought ideas about government with them to North America. Analyze Charts How is representative government practiced in the United States today?

Influential Documents and Ideas These basic notions of ordered, limited, and representative government can be traced to ideas that began to emerge hundreds of years before the English reached North America, as well as to several landmark documents in English history.

Influential Documents and Ideas The Magna Carta The Petition of Right The English Bill of Rights

Influential Documents and Ideas King John reluctantly signed the Magna Carta, thereby limiting his own power. Centuries later, many ideas from the Magna Carta influenced America’s founding documents.

Three Types of Colonies England’s colonies in North America have been described as “schools of government,” because they were the settings in which Americans first began to learn the difficult art of government. Later, the lessons learned by the colonists would help inform the development of the government of the new United States.

Three Types of Colonies Royal Colonies The Proprietary Colonies The Charter Colonies

Three Types of Colonies Despite the varying government systems of the colonies, they were all influenced by their English roots. Analyze Maps How were the legislatures of the proprietary colonies structured?

Three Types of Colonies In 1619, Virginia’s colonial legislature became the first representative body to meet in the North American English colonies. Its lower house was called the House of Burgesses.

Quiz: Origins of American Constitutional Government The English colonists brought with them knowledge of political systems that influenced constitutional government in North America. Which one of these basic notions held that the people should have a voice in determining what their government can and cannot do? A. colonial government B. limited government C. ordered government D. representative government

Quiz: Influential Documents and Ideas Which event from English history between 1628 and 1690 most directly influenced later American political ideas and traditions? A. Parliament acted to limit the power of the monarch and guarantee certain rights to the people. B. King John waged many wars and imposed heavy taxes on the English people. C. Charles I called Parliament into session to request more money in taxes. D. Parliament offered the crown to William and Mary of Orange after searching for a suitable ruler.

Quiz: Three Types of Colonies Which of the following correctly describes the differences between royal and proprietary colonies? A. royal: governor and his council named by the king; proprietary: governor appointed by the proprietor B. royal: governor’s council subject to direct control of the crown; proprietary: governor subject to direct control of the crown C. royal: governor elected by the king’s council; proprietary: governor selected the proprietor D. royal: governor named by the king; proprietary colonies: governors elected by male property owners