Foundations of u.S. Government English Heritage and Colonial Times

Being British OUR FOUNDERS WERE BRITISH! Expected equal treatment based on: The Magna Carta English Bill of Rights

Magna Carta (The Great Charter) Treaty between King and Nobles in 1215 Unjust or cruel punishment Taxation without representation Roots of Parliament Charter

English Bill of Rights The Glorious Revolution King William III & Queen Mary Rule by consent No standing armies Reaffirmed rights in Magna Carta

English Bill of Rights Cont. "The settlement marked a considerable triumph.... If no Roman Catholic could be king, then no kingship could be unconditional. The adoption of the exclusionist solution lent support to John Locke’s [view] that government was in the nature of a social contract between the king and his people represented in parliament. The revolution permanently established Parliament as the ruling power of England." -Britannica.com

New Ideas John Locke Born equal; Natural Rights Charles-Louis de Montesquieu Balance of Powers Blackstone God's law above Human law

Colonial Governments Differences No Nobles Autonomy Similarities Subjects of the King Property = Rights

Written Constitutions The Mayflower Compact 1st New World plan for self Gov. The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut 1st Colonial Charter (Primitive Constitution) Other Colonies followed All under Royal Supervision

Colonial Legislatures Determined by Church Membership Massachusetts Bay Colony General Court Representative gov. begins By 1776 Colonies had been practicing for Independence for over 100 years