Bill of Rights Influences

Bill of Rights The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. B. Where did it come from? What influenced it?

English Political Heritage Limited Government 1. Belief that government should be subject to strict limits on the lawful use of power.

Magna Carta No Not That One…….

Magna Carta a. Signed by King John in 1215, this document gave nobles the right to a trial by jury, and taxes could only be raised with the consent of the nobles.

b. Moved from rule of man to rule of law. c b. Moved from rule of man to rule of law. c. Outlined individual rights which a king could not violate.

Representative Government Idea that people should have a say in their government. In 1258, nobles forced King Henry III to create a council called Parliament.

Evolved into a bicameral, or 2 house legislature. The House of Lords represented the nobles and the House of Commons represented people who owned large amounts of land but were not members of the nobility.

3. The struggle for power between the monarchy and Parliament lasts for centuries, until it shifted to Parliament in 1688.

A. As English colonists were coming over to North America, they brought with them the English system of constitutional government. 1. Each colony had a charter that guaranteed colonists the “rights of Englishment.”

Enlightenment Ideas Enlightenment ideas such as natural rights and social contract theory were becoming widespread in the colonies. 1. Natural Rights – idea that everyone is born with the rights to life, liberty, and property.

2. Social Contract Theory – idea that government is a contract between the ruler and the ruled. Governments are created by man to protect their natural rights. If government instead abuses those rights, then the people have a right to rebel against that government.

Road to Revolution A. In the years leading up to the American Revolution, the colonists felt that British policies towards the colonies were violating their natural rights as British citizens, so they overthrew government.

Quartering Act of 1765 – passed by Parliament, it required the colonies to house soldiers in accomodations provided by the colonists. a. VIOLATION OF PROPERTY RIGHTS

Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776 Second Continental Congress, Philadelphia, PA Broke off from Great Britain “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” Taxation without representation

Articles of Confederation WEAK They were NOT effective Confusion on States Rights vs. Federal Government Rights As a result, the Constitution was created

Federalists vs. Antifederalists A. Federalists Felt the country needed a strong central government after the failures of the Articles of Confederation. Federalists supported the Constitution in its original form.

B. Anti-Federalists Opposed the Constitution Feared a strong central government Feared the Constitution didn’t protect individual freedoms and rights. Wanted a Bill of Rights to protect the rights of the people

U.S. Constitution 3 Branches of Government Legislative: MAKES LAWS; CONGRESS Executive: President/VP Judicial: Interprets Laws; JUDGES Rights that we have as a people/nation Amendments

Northwest Ordinance Policy of “New States” for the nation. EQUAL WITH THE ORIGINAL 13 COLONIES!!!!!! The ordinance provided for civil liberties and public education within the new territories, but did not allow slavery. Established the Ohio River as the boundary between free territory and slave territory in the region between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River