Origins of Our Government SSCG1 a and b

Today’s Standards SSCG1 : The student will demonstrate knowledge of the political philosophies that shaped the development of the United States constitutional government. a. Analyze key ideas of limited government and rule of law as seen in the Magna Carta, the Petition of Rights, and the English Bill of Rights. b. Analyze the writings of Hobbes (Leviathan), Locke (Second Treatise on Government), and Montesquieu (The Spirit of Laws) as they affect our concept of government.

A Little History… In England from around 870 to 1200, the people lived under kings with no rights. The kings of Europe ruled with absolute power. Until…this guy

Magna Carta King John came to power just after his beloved brother died fighting the Crusades. King John was not a good ruler; he was a tyrant The noble (wealthy) people of England fought back and got King John to sign the Magna Carta in 1215 The Magna Carta guaranteed that: Free people could not be arrested, put in prison, or forced to leave their nation unless they were given a trial by a jury of their peers Citizens of England could only be judged by English law The rights of Parliament (legislature) were protected from the monarch

Petition of Right The kings ruled with the Magna Carta for about 400 years before the Petition of Right in 1628. Charles I signed the Petition of Right which guaranteed: A limit on taxation with out Parliament’s permission No forced quartering, or housing, of soldiers No imprisonment without cause which solidified the Magna Carta

English Bill of Rights After the execution of Charles I and the English Civil War, the Glorious Revolution of William and Mary (1689) brought the English Bill of Rights to the citizens. The new Bill of Rights included: The right to petition, or request, the government to improve or change laws Separation of powers Limits on the power of the king or queen Fair punishment if founded guilty of a crime

Limited Government Choose one of the documents and explain how they are examples of limited government.

Background Info Every country in Europe was ruled by kings and queens. The everyday citizens did not have any rights. The nobles of England had the most rights of all the people in Europe. The philosophers of the Enlightenment began developing ideas about what governments should be.

Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes was an English political philosopher He published Leviathan in 1651 in which he argued the Social Contract Theory The Social Contract is an agreement by individuals to form a government. He believed that everyday people surrender part of their freedom in order for protection from a ruler They want to be protected even if their ruler is cruel

John Locke John Locke used Hobbes’ ideas to argue against autocratic governments He wrote the Second Treatise on Civil Government in 1690 He wrote that people have certain Natural Rights These rights include life, liberty, and property He believed government could not take away these rights, nor would people have to surrender these rights He stated that if the government did not protect the people they could rebel and form a new government

Montesquieu Montesquieu was a French philosopher He wrote The Spirit of Laws in 1750 He believed a separation of powers was needed to preserve liberty. The division of powers of government among separate institutions or branches Used by the Founding Fathers for our three branches of government

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