EARLY BRITISH GOVERNMENT UNIT 2

EARLY BRITISH GOVERNMENT Why do we need to know about British government? America was a British colony for 169 years. America took many ideas from European countries. Britain was a monarchy in the time of colonial settlement in America. There was a king and Parliament during that time. Colonists did not have much of a choice in laws.

IMPORTANT ENGLISH DOCUMENTS Magna Carta: 1215 signed by King John -Established limits on the king’s absolute authority (limited his power) English Bill of Rights: Limits the power of the crown -Sets out rights of Parliament

ENLIGHTENMENT William Blackstone: English judge Believed strongly in religious tolerance Supported the idea of self defense Believed in natural rights: life and liberty

ENLIGHTENMENT John Locke: English philosopher He believed in certain natural rights given to them by God: life, liberty and property He also argued that the government is to protect those rights. This is the foundation of the social contract – the agreement between people to form a government to rule over them and to abide by its rules. Executive and Legislative Branches

ENLIGHTENMENT Charles de Montesquieu French Lawyer Expanded on John Locke’s branches of government Added judiciary branch Wrote of separation of powers Believed that in a republic, education is a necessity

COLONIAL DOCUMENTS Mayflower Compact: Social Contract – settlers agree to submit to the authority of government Self-government/Majority rule Fundamental Orders of Connecticut: First written constitution in the colonies Virginia House of Burgesses: First representative assembly in the colonies Penn’s Frames of Government: Protected rights and liberties -trial by jury -freedom of the press -religious tolerance

REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT Distance from Europe Colonists needed to make their own laws to keep peace and order Colonists were used to English system (Parliament) Most colonies were self-governing These colonies elected members for an assembly which made their laws. Communities were isolated