Origins of American Government Unit 2

Before the United States The United States has existed as a nation for more than 200 years. 200 years before that, however, England, France, Spain, and Holland fought over territories east of the Mississippi River.

Political Heritage The English colonies brought with them four important principles: –limited government, –representative government, –individual liberty, –rule by law.

The Magna Carta –Considered the foundation of English constitutional freedoms. –This document put restrictions on King John of England; established the principle of limited government.

Henry II Royal Courts Circuit Judges Common Law

The Magna Carta Barons Revolt 1215 at Runnymeade Clauses Parliament –2 Houses

Parliament Created from the Magna Carta Representative body of government with the power to make laws. Consists of the House of Lords and House of Commons.

English Traditions Items such as individual liberty (fair trial/jury of peers), Petition of Right (checks and balances), The English Bill of Rights (similar to our Bill of Rights. Locke’s “social contract” (that the purpose of government is to protect people’s “natural rights”) deeply influenced American leaders. Common law: laws based on decisions of judges, based on custom and tradition.

What Are Historical Sources? A historical source is something that tells us about History. It may be a document, a picture, a sound recording, a book, a cinema film, a television program or an object. There are two main types of historical source: Primary Sources and Secondary Sources

What are Historical Sources? A Primary source is something that originates from the past. A Secondary source is something that has been made recently about the past. For example: –A Roman coin that was made by the Romans is a Primary Source, but a drawing of a Roman coin made in 2003 would be a Secondary Source. –OR –A Book written about the Tudors in 1525 would be a Primary Source, but a book written about the Tudors in 1995 would be a Secondary Source.

Practice Do you know the difference? Try these exercises to see: Look at each of the images, which are primary resources, and which are secondary resources?

Practice 1 A piece of the original Magna Carta signed by King John in 1215 Primary

Practice 2 The Mona Lisa - Painted by Leonardo da Vinci in 1506 Primary

Practice 3 A book about the Tudors written in 1999 Secondary

Practice 4 A mug made in 2013 Primary

Practice 5 A cartoon of Napoleon made in 1975 Secondary

Practice 6 Roman Coins made by the Romans in AD 45 Primary

Practice 7 A Poster of a Van Gogh Painting made in 1975 Secondary

Questions to ask a Source A historian will ask a variety of questions in order to find out historical information about a source. The same questions can be asked of either a Primary Source or a Secondary Source. There are six key questions to ask:historian WHO? WHERE? WHAT? WHEN? HOW? WHY? Listed below are a selection of questions that might be asked of a source by a historian. Please note that not every question will be used for every source.

Who? WHO made it? WHO used it? WHO is in the picture? WHOSE opinion does it show?

Who? Practice Who made it? The Romans in AD 45 Who used it? The Romans Who is in the picture? The head on the coins show who was emperor.

Where? WHERE? WHERE is it? WHERE was it? WHERE was it made? WHERE was it used?

Where? Practice Where is it? It is in the Louvre art gallery, Paris. Where was it? It was in Italy. It is now in the Louvre gallery, Paris. Where was it made? It was made in Italy by Leonardo da Vinci. Where was it used? It was used to hang on a wall for decoration.

When? WHEN? WHEN was it made? WHEN was it used? When does it show?

When? Practice When was it made? It was made in When was it used? It was used in 1215 to force King John to grant concessions to the baronsforce When does it show? It shows the feelings of the barons in 1215.

How HOW? HOW was it made? HOW was it used? HOW has it survived?

How? Practice How was it made? It was made in a factory - there may be a stamp on the base of the mug that gives details of the factory or potter. How was it used? It was/is used for people to drink hot beverages from. How has it survived? It has survived because it was made this year.

Why? WHY? WHY was it made? WHY has it survived?

Why? Practice Why was it made? Because people like Van Gogh paintings and because there is only one original painting; posters like this enable many people to see art. Why has it survived? It has survived because it is fairly new and has been looked after.