Chapter 2: Roots of American Democracy

British influence on colonial government Colonial government was heavily influenced by our English heritage Colonists brought with them from England ideas about how a government should work Instead of creating new ideas, they copied from the British

Roots of Am. Government Enlightenment: Period during 16/1700’s where people began to use science and reason to question many institutions of society Monarch: King or Queen ruling a country, typical form of leadership for European nations at this time. Usually held absolute or near absolute power During Enlightenment, many began to question the legitimacy of a monarch in power. Restrictions (England) & Revolutions (France) would take place.

Magna Carta From England Nobles forced King James to sign in 1215 Limited the power of the King/Queen Now the King/Queen is not above the law Gave rights to the English People

Roots of Am. Government Parliament: British legislative (lawmaking) body. Gained power from King in England through 1600’s. English Bill of Rights/Glorious Revolution of 1688/89 established powers of Parliament in writing that King could not take away Common Law: laws develop out of traditions and previous court rulings, rather than laws made by the legislature

Chapter 2 Key Terms Ordered Government: Has structure, people have positions (President, Congress, etc…) Limited Government: There are limits on what government can do, people have rights that cannot be taken away Representative Government: Government should serve the will of the people (people have a voice in govt)

English Roots of Government Rule of law: All people, even the King, must obey the law Magna Carta (1215): King John of England signed guaranteeing the people basic rights Limited Government: The power of the King has limits, not all powerful Individual Rights: rights the people have that can’t be taken away by govt.

Documents Influencing Early Government English Bill of Rights: 1688 Magna Carta: 1215 (England) Barons vs. King John Petition of Right: 1628 Parliament and Charles I English Bill of Rights: 1688 England Parliament and Will/Mary of Orange Trial by jury for political critics (1st Amend. Speech and 6th Amend.) Can’t rule by force No quartering of soldiers (3rd Amend.) Monarchs must obey law of land (Constitution) Trial by jury (6th Amend.) Due process of law (5th Amend.) Later, All people, not just privileged protected (14th Amend.) Power of monarch not absolute (limited by the document) Fair Speedy Trial (6th Amend.) Parliament approves changes to laws (Art. 1, Sec. 8 Powers of Congress) Freedom from excessive bail (8th Amend.) No cruel and unusual punishment (8th Amend.) Free elections

Ideas of the Enlightenment This was an intellectual movement based on scientific discoveries of the 1600s Believed that God created an orderly universe and that these ideas could be discovered through reason These laws were then applied to all aspects of life, including government These ideas were a strong influence on the creation of governments in America

Borrowed from English Enlightenment Natural Rights: rights that people have by being born human and not government can take away Life, liberty, property ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ John Locke: English writer who supported the idea of natural rights/social contract when government is not protective of the rights of its citizens Social Contract: People have natural rights that cannot be taken from the by the government Contract: people give up some freedom, to govt Govt protects the people’s rights/safety If govt breaks contract, people can?????

Thinkers of the Enlightenment cont’d Baron de Montesquieu French philosopher separation of powers Divide the government into 3 parts, each with a different role -legislative branch to make laws -executive branch to enforce/ carry out laws -judicial branch to interpret laws

Thinkers of the Enlightenment cont’d Jean-Jacques Rousseau A French philosopher who wrote The Social Contract Said that man was born free but is kept in “chains” by oppressive governments popular sovereignty

Early Colonial Governments cont’d Mayflower Compact Pilgrims signed on the Mayflower It was a written form of government that established a direct democracy It created the tradition of the town meeting, where citizens could discuss and vote on issues. Town meetings are still used in New England today

The Road to Revolution Until 1760, colonists left alone Salutary Neglect 1760, George III takes the throne of England Starts policy of mercantilism towards the colonies 1763 marks the end of the French and Indian War To cover the costs of the war, England creates the Stamp Act as a tax on the colonists (tax on newspapers and legal documents)

The Road to Revolution cont’d Colonists boycott British goods as a protest to the tax Parliament repeals the Stamp Act In 1766, England passes the Declaratory Act saying they will tax the colonists whenever they want to

The Road to Revolution cont’d 1767, England passes the Townshend Acts which taxed glass, tea, paper, and lead Boycott again! 1773 Tea Act passed Colonists respond with the Boston Tea Party

Colonial Protest of the Tea Acts Boston Tea Party – Dec 16, 1773 Colonial Protest of the Tea Acts

Intolerable Acts Passed as punishment for Boston Tea party and other protests Closed Boston Harbor (no trade) No more govt meetings Criminal trials in Britain (no fair trial) Forced Colonists to shelter troops

2nd Continental Congress (1775) 1st Continental Congress The Colonists Respond 2nd Continental Congress (1775) Revolution War already begun All 13 colonies sent delegates Unicameral Congress, John Hancock elected as President of the Congress Fought war, raised & paid army, made treaties Legislative & Executive power (could make and enforce laws) 1st Continental Congress (1774) To respond to Britain’s passage of Intolerable Acts Colonists urged to boycott (refuse to buy/trade) with Britain Set up the Second Continental Congress

The Road to Revolution cont’d England responds… Coercive Acts aka Intolerable Acts September 1774, 1st Continental Congress colonists demanded that their rights were restored King George refuses and sends more troops to the colonies

The Road to Revolution cont’d April 1775, battles of Lexington and Concord May 1775, 2nd Continental Congress met January 1776, Thomas Paine writes Common Sense which urged the colonists to fight for independence

The Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson explained to the world why we were fighting for our independence argued that England was no longer protecting our rights and as a result we had the right to govern ourselves included a long list of abuses of power by the King stated that it was up to the people to decide how they would be ruled approved by the Second Continental Congress on July 4th 1776

Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776 Declared Independence from England Officially created the United States of America Claimed England had broken Social Contract