Historical Documents Notes

In ancient Greece citizens met to discuss and vote on their issues - Democracy (demo-people/ ocracy- government) In ancient Rome, representatives were elected to make laws = legislatures. Republic = representatives. (Senate) England still had an all powerful king until 1215 when King John signed Magna Carta (Great Charter) Magna Carta limited the power of the king but it was mostly about rights of the nobility.

King John signs Magna Carta

5. Parliament was created in 1258 : England’s first rep gov’t 5. Parliament was created in 1258 : England’s first rep gov’t. Social contract (Thomas Hobbes) = king respects the rights of the people; people (and) king obey laws. 6. In 1619, Virginia elects the House of Burgesses – election of representatives. 1620 - Pilgrims write the Mayflower Compact – Self government in America.

Mayflower Compact House of Burgesses

7. Petition of Right 1628 – King Charles I agreed to: no taxes without Parliament’s agreement, no arbitrary arrest or jail against Magna Carta; due process and jury for all including public officials. 8. John Locke – people have Natural Rights that cannot be taken away, even by a king. King Charles I was beheaded by Parliament in 1649 for breaking the Petition=No King!

Ceiling of the Banqueting House that was built to show off Charles’ kingship was the site of his execution.

King Charles Stuart (1st) only British monarch to ever be executed. Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell (Puritan)

King Charles 2nd Puritan “roundhead” who fought for Parliament

British colonies began in Virginia in 1585 and continued until end of the American Revolution 1776. British colonies continued in Caribbean and Canada.

9. English Bill of Rights 1689 – King cannot make new laws or taxes, or keep a standing army, without the consent of Parliament; may not interfere with the election of Parliament. 10. Parliament has free speech, is elected by the people, commoners may keep weapons and cannot be punished unless convicted of a crime; no excessive bail or “cruel and unusual” punishments. *Montesquieu’s Separation of Powers and Rousseau’s The Social Contract 11. In the colonies, the First Continental Congress met in 1774 to discuss the “Intolerable Acts”; Taxes passed by Parliament on the colonies, colonies boycotted English goods.

12. Second Continental Congress met in 1775 after Revolution started 12. Second Continental Congress met in 1775 after Revolution started. They had been protesting “No taxation without representation.” *Parliament was not elected by colonists and so may not tax colonists. 13. Declaration of Independence 1776 – gov’ts are created by the people and so must be approved by the people. All people are created equal and have the rights of “Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness” written by Jefferson and committee. 14. People have the right and duty to destroy an unjust gov’t and set up a new one that will respect their rights. “We the people . . .”

15. The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution but: Congress could not tax, regulate trade, or enforce laws. There was no national leader or court system. Nothing could be changed without all 13 states agreement. So no problems were fixed or debts paid so the representatives started to write the new constitution in secret . . . Shhhhhh, (until they could submit the whole thing at once to the colonies for ratification).