From King to Constitution

Monarchy King is at the top of the hierarchy Nobles and their Serfs serve him King has absolute authority Tax War Confiscation of property Imprisonment

King John Abuses Power Declares war without support of those under him Demands more taxes and sale of lands to pay for wars Imprisons without trial or charges

Magna Carta (1215) Nobles force King to sing contract Taxation with consent Trials with peers No imprisonment without charges/ trial 1st time in History a rulers authority is limited The people have rights the government must recognize

Fast forward to 1770s America was a British Colony King is subjecting colonists to Taxation without consent Imprisonment without charges Searches without cause Trial without peers Colonist want the rights of Englishmen! American Revolution

Articles of Confederation (1781) First American Constitution Power is shared equally by the states Wanted weak federal government No President No power to tax No power to raise an Army No judicial system Cannot change Articles without unanimous consent of ALL states Very inflexible

Constitution of the United States(1787) 3 branches (Executive, Legislative, Judicial) Checks and Balances (each branch is assigned powers that check the others) Amendments 2/3 of Congress ¾ of States Difficult but allows for flexibility