The history of western government

Ancient Athens Direct Democracy 500 BC – 300 BC All free male citizens naturally born in Athens were considered active citizens In reality this was a small percentage of Athenians that were considered citizens All citizens directly involved in the Athenian government Took turns with different government official duties through random selection

Ancient roman republic 500 BC – 30 BC Indirect Democracy – Also known as a – Republic (representatives elected by people) Patricians and Plebians Several branches of government Checks and Balances – limited each branch’s powers Assemblies Senate Consuls

feudalism 800 AD – 1400 AD Economy/Govt. based primarily on Land King Lord/Baron Vassal/Knight Peasants Divine right of Monarch to rule King/Queen held all power Manorialism – economic term Land is given in exchange for military service and/or crops/valuables Decentralized – lords held much regional Power over their subjects rather than King

Magna carta 1215 AD “The Great Charter” Established idea of LIMITED GOVERNMENT King John forced to sign document 63 clauses mostly incorporated issues unique to the middle ages Limited the power of the King and forced him to follow the law – Major Points: King could not tax without consent of the people (basis for the start of Parliament) King was not above the law and must follow it as well, could not do whatever he pleased… Free Persons were guaranteed a trial by a jury of their peers No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions, or outlawed or exiled, or deprived of his standing in any other way, nor will we proceed with force against him, or send others to do so, except by the lawful judgement of his equals or by the law of the land. To no one will we sell, to no one deny or delay right or justice.

Commercial revolution 1400 AD – Black Plague wiped out 1/3 of Europe The Crusades encourage trade with other parts of world Much less Peasants available for work after the Plague Peasants became more highly valued for their work = higher wages Less people = crops less expensive – less money made from the land Land becomes less valuable, and lords/barons lose the power they once had Economy shifted, became based on money and trade of goods Towns were created as centers for trade and production Merchants and artisans become wealthy and powerful Feudal System dissipated and national centralized monarchies developed instead Monarchs no longer had to rely on their lords or vassals, had complete power

English civil war / ENLIGHTENMENT PERIOD 1632-1704 AD (Enlightenment) 1642-1651 AD (English Civil War) Hobbes and Locke – Social Contract Theories Viewed Human Nature in very different ways Thus, they saw purpose of government and its structure in very different ways Baron De Montesquieu – Separation of Power theory believed different branches of government could balance each other by limiting each others power

Glorious revolution 1688 AD England had left the Catholic Church and had become a Protestant Nation James II – new king – wanted to bring Catholicism back as the national religion Nobles feared more uncertainty in England just after the end of the English Civil War Parliament asked William III and wife Mary II of Orange to come take over the throne This occurred peacefully as James II fled to France in exile A peaceful, bloodless exchange of power!

English bill of rights 1689 AD English Bill of Rights passed by Parliament and ratified by William Established a Constitutional Monarchy in Britain (British Constitution) Gave Parliament its own separate powers from the King Further limited power of the Monarch Only Parliament could consent to taxation and new laws No excessive fines or punishment Some members of Parliament would be elected by the people Established freedom of speech

Influences Think about the different influences that existed prior to the start of the US Government Predict: How will these different events, ideas, and philosophers inspire our founding fathers?