Chapter 2: The American Colonies and their Government Lesson 1: Influences on American Colonial Government

The Foundation of Democracy Democracy: a government in which citizens hold the power to rule Ancient Democracies In the 400s B.C., the Greek city-state of Athens created the world’s first democracy Direct Democracy: a form of democracy in which the people vote firsthand Representative Democracy: a government in which citizens choose a smaller group to govern on their behalf In 509 B.C., ancient Rome overthrew their king and became the world’s first republic Republic: a representative democracy where citizens choose their lawmakers

Early English Influences Magna Carta in 1215 Limited the king’s power Limited Government: the principle that a ruler or a government is not all-powerful Gave rights to landowners Equal treatment under the law Trial by one’s peers Gave the nobles rights to rebel if the king broke his agreement Parliament began as a group of advisors to the king Eventually they became a legislature Legislature: a group of people that make laws Petition of Right 1628 Agreement between King Charles I and Parliament, which limited the powers of the king When he failed to uphold his end of the bargain, he was removed from power

The English Bill of Rights The English Bill of Rights was an agreement between the citizens and England Agreed that English citizens had rights that no king could violate Signing the English Bill of Rights settle the struggle between Parliament and the monarch

Enlightenment Thinkers Enlightenment was a culture movement in Europe which sparked new ideas about the government It was a time where many began asking questions regarding their way of life Thomas Hobbes developed the social contract theory Social Contract: an agreement among people in a society with their government John Locke developed the theory of natural rights Natural Rights: a freedom people possess relating to life, liberty, and property

The First Colonial Government Jamestown, Virginia settled in 1607 by the Virginia Company Established a representative democracy with an assembly called the House of Burgesses Plymouth, Massachusetts settled in 1620 by the pilgrims Established a direct democracy with the Mayflower Compact Compact: an agreement, or contract, among a group of people