Origins and Development of Colonial Governments The Colonial Period Social Studies Survey

Essential Question What elements of the English political heritage helped develop representative government in the American colonies?

I CAN: Explain why the colonists expected representative government Analyze early British documents that helped to set up our Declaration of Independence and Constitution Describe the government of early colonial America

Magna Carta Text Activity Students will use a copy of the Magna Carta to read through and highlight/underline importance phrases that they have heard used before (from Declaration, Constitution, etc.)

An English Political Heritage The English established the thirteen colonies English system had two major principles: Limited Government Representative Government

Limited Government System in which the power of the government is limited, not absolute

Magna Carta Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rROhCaTvyLc 2:34 min

Magna Carta (1215) Also known as Great Charter First appears in Magna Carta (1215) and only to nobility at the start

Petition of Rights (1628) Severely limited King Charles 1 power No longer collect taxes, imprison people without just cause, house troops in private homes or declare martial law without war

English Bill of Rights (1688) Set clear limits on what a ruler could and could not do Set up 5 key ideas:

English Bill of Rights Monarchs do not have absolute authority Monarch must have Parliaments consent to suspend laws, levy taxes, or maintain army Monarch cannot interfere with parliamentary elections and debates People have right to fair and speedy trial No cruel and unusual punishment

Representative Government Government in which people elect delegates to make laws and conduct government

John Locke John Locke- Two Treatises of Government Argued that if government failed to protect these natural rights, the people could change that government (social contract theory)

Government in the Colonies Each English colony had its own governor, a legislature, and a court system Each had: A written constitution Legislatures of elected representatives Separation of powers between governors and legislature

Mayflower Compact Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lJ70k-P4rw Start at 8:15

First example of colonial self- government Mayflower Compact (1620 First example of colonial self- government

Mayflower Compact Videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgZPiFgptdw 4:25 min (ok) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYr8LbFNB00&feature=fvwrel Creation of the mayflower Compact (3:57)

Mayflower Compact

First basic system of laws in the colonies Great Fundamentals (1636) First basic system of laws in the colonies

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1639) First formal constitution or charter in the colonies All men have the right to vote in the colony

Fundamental Preamble For as much as it hath pleased Almighty God by the wise disposition of his divine providence so to order and dispose of things that we the Inhabitants and Residents of Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield are now cohabiting and dwelling in and upon the River of Connectecotte and the lands thereunto adjoining; and well knowing where a people are gathered together the word of God requires that to maintain the peace and union of such a people there should be an orderly and decent Government established according to God, to order and dispose of the affairs of the people at all seasons as occasion shall require; do therefore associate and conjoin ourselves to be as one Public State or Commonwealth; and do for ourselves and our successors and such as shall be adjoined to us at any time hereafter, enter into Combination and Confederation together, to maintain and preserve the liberty and purity of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus which we now profess, as also, the discipline of the Churches, which according to the truth of the said Gospel is now practiced amongst us; as also in our civil affairs to be guided and governed according to such Laws, Rules, Orders and Decrees as shall be made, ordered, and decreed as followeth

Colonial Legislature First legislature in America: Virginia House of Burgesses Many colonies had legislature well before the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were put into place Voting had property qualifications, but land was abundant and affordable

Separation of Powers The division of power among the legislative, judicial, and executive branches