WTP: Unit One What are the philosophical and historical foundations of the American Political System?

Lesson One:What did the founders think about constitutional government? / Colonial America / Rural / Spotting relationship between colonists and Natives / A few influential families dominated most towns or regions / Colonial America / Rural / Spotting relationship between colonists and Natives / A few influential families dominated most towns or regions

Lesson One:What did the founders think about constitutional government? / Influences on the Founders: / Aristotle / Hobbes / Cicero / Locke / Montesquie / Blackstone / Also experience as colonies affected ideas on government / Lax British control left a lot of self governing. / Influences on the Founders: / Aristotle / Hobbes / Cicero / Locke / Montesquie / Blackstone / Also experience as colonies affected ideas on government / Lax British control left a lot of self governing.

Lesson One:What did the founders think about constitutional government? / Possible Forms of government: / Monarchy / Tyranny / Aristocracy / Oligarchy / Polity / Democracy / Did not trust the power in one’s or the masses hands. / Possible Forms of government: / Monarchy / Tyranny / Aristocracy / Oligarchy / Polity / Democracy / Did not trust the power in one’s or the masses hands.

Lesson One:What did the founders think about constitutional government? / Solution: / Republican form of government / Res publica / “public thing” / Needed the massess to be filtered / Protect them from themselves / Protect rights of the minority / Protect the interests of both the majority and minority in order to sustain government. / Solution: / Republican form of government / Res publica / “public thing” / Needed the massess to be filtered / Protect them from themselves / Protect rights of the minority / Protect the interests of both the majority and minority in order to sustain government.

Lesson One:What did the founders think about constitutional government? / Whats a constitution? / Unwritten Constitution / Great Britain / Combination of written laws and precedents that create a “constitutional body” / Creates limited government & rule of law / Government limited by the provisions of the constitution and is not above the law but rather restrained/constrained by it. / Whats a constitution? / Unwritten Constitution / Great Britain / Combination of written laws and precedents that create a “constitutional body” / Creates limited government & rule of law / Government limited by the provisions of the constitution and is not above the law but rather restrained/constrained by it.

Lesson Two:What ideas about civic life informed the founding generation? / Old School influences (from antiquity) / Classical republicanism / Common good / altruism / Civic virtue / State, city before the individual citizen / Small, uniform communities / Homogenous and exclusive / Moral Education / Common values and religious beliefs / Old School influences (from antiquity) / Classical republicanism / Common good / altruism / Civic virtue / State, city before the individual citizen / Small, uniform communities / Homogenous and exclusive / Moral Education / Common values and religious beliefs

Lesson Two: What ideas about civic life informed the founding generation? Philosophy & Government / Locke and Hobbes / Natural rights philosophy / State of nature Law of nature -Inalienable rights --LLP Philosophy & Government / Locke and Hobbes / Natural rights philosophy / State of nature Law of nature -Inalienable rights --LLP

Lesson Two: What ideas about civic life informed the founding generation? Natural Rights Philosophy Social Contract Theory / unwritten contract between members of a society / To preserve rights of the members / Government instituted in order to protect these rights and solidify this contract. Natural Rights Philosophy Social Contract Theory / unwritten contract between members of a society / To preserve rights of the members / Government instituted in order to protect these rights and solidify this contract.

Lesson Two: What ideas about civic life informed the founding generation? Natural Rights Philosophy Key tenets / Individual rights / Inalienable rights for EVERY member(ish) / Popular sovereignty / Right of revolution / Limited Government / Social contract / legitimacy Natural Rights Philosophy Key tenets / Individual rights / Inalienable rights for EVERY member(ish) / Popular sovereignty / Right of revolution / Limited Government / Social contract / legitimacy

Lesson 3: What historical developments influenced modern ideas of individual rights? Religion and Human Rights / Judeo-Christian Beliefs / Public and Private morality / Virtues of community v. virtues of faith and religion / Dignity and worth of all human beings / Civic virtue a matter of moral faith and obligation as opposed to duty to society / Church held lots of power because of limited access to the Bible Religion and Human Rights / Judeo-Christian Beliefs / Public and Private morality / Virtues of community v. virtues of faith and religion / Dignity and worth of all human beings / Civic virtue a matter of moral faith and obligation as opposed to duty to society / Church held lots of power because of limited access to the Bible

Lesson 3: What historical developments influenced modern ideas of individual rights? Individual Right & the Middle Ages Feudalism / Hierarchical economic and governmental system based on ownership of resources, principally land. / kights, Lords, Vassals, Fiefs (serfs) Individual Right & the Middle Ages Feudalism / Hierarchical economic and governmental system based on ownership of resources, principally land. / kights, Lords, Vassals, Fiefs (serfs)

Lesson 4: What were the British Origins of American Constitutionalism? How did rights develop in England? / Rights of Englishmen - / Common law / Generally procedural due process rights / Magna Carta 1215 / “Great Charter” / King John & his barons, clergy, and merchants / Rule of law / Basic rights / Included redress of grievances / Government by contract How did rights develop in England? / Rights of Englishmen - / Common law / Generally procedural due process rights / Magna Carta 1215 / “Great Charter” / King John & his barons, clergy, and merchants / Rule of law / Basic rights / Included redress of grievances / Government by contract

Lesson 4: What were the British Origins of American Constitutionalism? Concepts of the British Constitution / Petition of Right 1628 / Charles needed $ Parliament said ok if… / Increased Parliaments role and rights Quartering soldiers Some procedural due process rights / Habeas Corpus Act 1679 / Deliver the body / No detainment without charges / English Bill of Rights 1689 / Result of Glorious Revolution / Rule of law / Representive government Concepts of the British Constitution / Petition of Right 1628 / Charles needed $ Parliament said ok if… / Increased Parliaments role and rights Quartering soldiers Some procedural due process rights / Habeas Corpus Act 1679 / Deliver the body / No detainment without charges / English Bill of Rights 1689 / Result of Glorious Revolution / Rule of law / Representive government