Beginnings of American Government Chapter 2 Beginnings of American Government

Early Traditions: Limited Government: Representative Government: Concept stating that the rule of the leaders of the country is limited and defined Representative Government: Citizens would elect people to represent them There was heavy British influence on the early formations of the United States Many of the early documents of the British people became the basis for our founding documents

Important Documents: The Magna Carta “The Great Charter” C.E. 1215 Signified the beginning of the end for the idea of “Divine Right” Guaranteed the right to trial by jury Rulers no longer able to take life, liberty or property without just cause

Important Documents: The Petition of Rights C.E. 1628 Expanded the rights of the English Citizens Ensured those rights applied to even the common people

Important Documents: The English Bill of Rights C.E. 1688 Brought more rights to the English people Free elections No cruel or unusual punishment Speedy & public trial

The Influence of John Locke: Was (as many founders were) a child of the enlightenment Gave us the ideas of: Natural rights: Man exists in a state of nature and is born with certain rights, including life, liberty and property Consent of the governed: People give up some of their rights to ensure the safety of others. People allow the government to exist & rule, not the other way around.

However… The colonies had no natural rights as far as the king was concerned The king used the Stamp Act (and later the Intolerable Acts) to assert his authority The colonists saw this as an abuse of their rights

This abuse led to: The Boston Tea Party December 16, 1773 Was a reaction to the Stamp Act Colonists dressed as Native Americans and dumped two ships-worth of tea into the Boston Harbor

This abuse led to: The intolerable Acts (1744) Colonists responded with the 1st & 2nd Continental Congresses And the Declaration of independence

This all culminated in: The Declaration of Independence One of the most influential documents ever written Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson Changed the philosophy of future generations