The American Colonies and Their Government Chapter 2

Bell Ringer August 21, 2014 What are six influences on American Government? Ancient Athens Ancient Romans Magna Carta (English) English Bill of Rights John Locke Baron de Montesquieu

Bell Ringer August 22, 2014 TEXT: Page 90 – Analyzing Cartoons Write questions What does the snake represent? What does the caption “Join or Die” mean?

Bell Ringer 1. The snake represents the American colonies 2. The caption urges the colonies to unite as one nation or be vulnerable to attack

Chapter 2 Section 3 Our first colonies were owned by England.

The values and experience of those colonists make up an important part of our heritage. From the beginning, colonists had a voice in their government by electing representatives to the legislature.

Virginia called their legislature – House of Burgesses. Each colony was established by the English Monarch giving a Royal Charter, which gave permission for the colony to form a government.

The colonies largely governed themselves throughout the 1600s and 1700s because England was busy fighting elsewhere.

Many times, governors were appointed by the King of England Many times, governors were appointed by the King of England. They were always in conflict with the legislatures in the colonies.

In the colonies, white male landowners were allowed to vote and hold office. Although only a few were allowed to vote, the English colonies in America were one of the few places in the world where citizens participated in their government.

Colonists worked for the common good by serving on a jury, joining a local militia, or volunteer army.

Colonists also supported Education The Puritans set up a public school to make sure that children could read and understand the Bible.

By the 1700s, England had tightened their control over the colonies because England needed money. (taxes) England did not allow the American Colonies to have representation in Parliament.

The colonists were using the word tyranny in talking of England’s abuse of them.

Essential Question After allowing colonists in America to govern themselves for so long, why did England suddenly begin to tighten control over the colonies and how did colonists react? England needed money after the French & Indian War . The colonists were angry

Bell Ringer August 20, 2014 Page 93 TEXT – Influences on American Government Analyze: Which of John Locke’s ideas had an influence on U.S. government? Apply: Why do you think so many of the influences on U.S. government were British

Bell Ringer August 20, 2014 Page 93 TEXT – Influences on American Government Analyze: Which of John Locke’s ideas had an influence on U.S. government? Both Ideas did. The government exists for the people and it should protect the natural rights of life, liberty, and property Apply: Why do you think so many of the influences on U.S. government were British ? Most colonists had come from England and were familiar with its culture

Chapter 2 Section 1 The Athenians created the world’s first direct democracy. (Greece)

Centuries later some American colonists practiced direct democracy by holding town meetings to vote on local issues.

In 509 B.C., the Romans founded a republic, a government in which representatives were elected to make laws.

After the end of the Roman Republic, government by the people disappeared for hundreds of years.

In the year 1215, the course of English history was changed forever, laying the groundwork for the type of government we have today. English Nobles forced King John of England to sign the Magna Carta – the Great Charter.

Magna Carta This document listed rights that the Monarch could not take away, limiting the King’s power for the first time.

Eventually, the rights it listed were given to all English citizens, including the colonists. Once the monarch’s power had been limited , a representative government soon followed. By the late 1200s, a legislature called Parliament was established in England.

In 1689, Parliament passed the English Bill of Rights, listing the rights of English citizens.

In the 1600s and 1700s, European philosophers wrote that people had natural rights, including the right to think for themselves.

John Locke wrote that government exists to serve the people, rather than the other way around. He said the purpose of government is to protect natural rights of life, liberty, and property

Montesquieu (French writer) suggested separation of powers, dividing the government power among different branches. This would guard against tyranny because no government official or branch could gain all the power.

Essential Question August 20, 2014 What line, from John Locke, did Thomas Jefferson use in the Declaration of Independence to sum up American values? “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Chapter 2 Vocabulary Democracy: government in which citizens hold the power to rule Direct Democracy: form of democracy in which the people vote firsthand for laws Representative Democracy: government in which citizens choose men or women to govern on their behalf Limited Government: the principle that a ruler or a government is not all-powerful Legislature: a group of people that make laws Social Contract: an agreement among people in a society with their government Natural Right: a freedom people possess relating to life, liberty, and property

Essential Question What did the English government contribute to the American government? The Magna Carta (1215) – limit the power of the ruler The English Bill of Rights (1689) – listing the rights of English citizens

Disagreements with Great Britain Chapter 2 Section 3 (Con’t) Clash of Views between England & Colonies 1. Government Colonists could not vote for members of Parliament No colonists were members of Parliament Parliament did not understand colonists’ needs. 2. Trade Parliament allowed only trade with England Colonists wanted the freedom to trade with anyone

3. “No taxation without Representation” England needed money due to debts from wars Colonists believed taxes were unfair because they had no representation in Parliament Parliament gave governors power to throw colonists in jail for not paying taxes

4. Steps toward Independence Organized Committees of Correspondence to pass news from colony to colony Legislatures called for a joined congress of representatives from all of the colonies. 1774 – First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, PA and agreed to cut off trade with England

5. A year Later: 1775 Things are worse and Second Continental Congress met and voted for Independence Committee members are: Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams

The Declaration of Independence They believed in natural rights: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Declaration of Independence Purpose of government (Locke’s idea): “ …to secure these rights, governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

Declaration of Independence When a Government abuses power the people may change it: “ whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute New Government.”

The Declaration concludes with the signers pledging to support it with “our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.” The Declaration of Independence was adopted in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776.

Bell Ringer August 25, 2014 Write Question: Page 59 – Read the Section: Second Continental Congress Write Question: Why do you think Thomas Paine called his pamphlet Common Sense ? The title suggests that it is obvious and natural that the colonies should break away from England.

Disagreements with Great Britain From the 1740s through the 1760s there was a religious movement called the Great Awakening in the colonies. Fiery preachers stressed the value of personal religious experience, urging people to build a direct relationship with God. The Great Awakening pressed colonists to question traditional religious authority.

The Enlightenment Thinkers Locke, Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Voltaire had urged people to question political authority. They stressed the natural rights and freedoms of the individual and that the people should have a social contract with their leaders.

Essential Question What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence? To justify to other nations the colonies’ decision to break with England