1. USHC 1.2 Foundations of Representative Government

2. Limited Government and Rule of Law 0 Colonial government was based on principles established in England. 0 Limited Government is a government that must obey a set of laws (constitution). 0 Rule of Law states that the law applies to everyone (even the King)

3. Magna Carta 0 In 1215, a group of English nobles forced King John I to sign the Magna Carta (Great Charter). 0 It granted the nobles various legal rights. 0 It prevented the king from imposing taxes without consent of a council. 0 Later= British Parliament.

4. Parliament 0 Gave English citizens a voice in their government 0 Originally formed in the thirteenth century 0 Comprised of two houses 0 House of Lords – consisted of appointed noblemen 0 House of Commons – made up of elected officials

5. English Bill of Rights 0 Enacted in 1689 0 Gave Parliament additional power 0 Stated that the monarch could not interfere with Parliamentary elections or impose taxes without Parliament’s consent

6. English Bill Of Rights (continued) 0 Granted citizens the right to a speedy trial, forbade cruel and unusual punishment, and the right to petition the government 0 Became a model for the US Constitution and Bill of Rights

7. Common Law 0 Based on tradition or past court decisions rather than written law 0 It is an important part of the US legal system

8. The Enlightenment 0 Began in Europe in the late 1600s 0 Featured revolutionary ideas in philosophy and political thought

9. John Locke 0 Challenged the belief that monarchs possess a God-given right to rule citizens 0 Believed that people were born with certain natural rights (life, liberty, and property) that no government can morally take away

10. Social Contract Theory 0 States that there is an implied contract between government and citizens 0 People give up some freedoms in order to empower the government to maintain order 0 Stated that if the government failed to serve citizens, then that government should be replaced.

11. Self-Government in the American Colonies 0 Most colonists believed in the idea of representative government 0 Examples – town government in New England, colonial legislatures (House of Burgesses), urban governments in Boston and New York

12. Salutary Neglect (letting the colonies govern themselves) 0 American colonists made their own decisions and policies 0 England allowed this freedom because of the great distance between Europe and America

13. Virginia’s House of Burgesses 0 Virginia’s House of Burgesses 0 First example of limited self- government in the colonies 0 Consisted of two houses – one elected by the people and another appointed by the governor

14. Colonial Governors vs. Colonial Legislatures 0 Colonial governors were appointed by the King 0 Colonial legislatures 0 created and passed laws 0 determined how taxes would be levied 0 set the salary of the governor, 0 consisted of rich landowners

15. Colonial Governors vs. Colonial Legislatures (continued) 0 Tension developed because the governors were appointed to serve the king and the legislatures were concerned with colonial interests

16. Popular Sovereignty 0 We the People…U.S. Preamble 0 Rule by the people