1. Our English Heritage

2. An English Political Heritage
Colonists came from everywhere, but most came from England.
English traditions of government
Limited government
Representative government

3. Magna Carta King John forced to sign in 1215
King’s powers were limited.
No unjust punishment
No loss of life, liberty or property without “due process of law”
Could not levy some taxes without consent of people (great nobles)

4. Petition of Right Charles I became king in 1625. Dissolved Parliament
Used private homes for troops
Imposed martial law
Ran out of money and had to recall Parliament
Parliament forced Charles I to sign Petition of Right in 1628.

5. Petition of Right King could no longer
Collect taxes without Parliament’s consent.
Imprison people without just cause.
House troops in private homes without permission.
Declare martial law unless the country was at war.

6. Petition of Right
The Big Change
King had to get permission from an elected Parliament, not just from the great nobles.

7. English Civil War
Oliver Cromwell
Lord Protector

8. The Glorious Revolution 1688
English Civil War
Beheaded Charles I
(future) Charles II exiled to France
After Cromwell died, Charles II “restored”
James II became king
The Glorious Revolution 1688
James II removed and exiled William III and Mary II invited to be rulers But they signed English Bill of Rights

9. English Bill of Rights Monarchs do not have divine right to rule.
They rule with the consent of the people’s representatives in Parliament.
Parliament must agree to suspend laws, levy taxes or maintain an army.
King cannot interfere with elections and debates.
Right to fair and speedy trial by jury of peers.
No cruel or unusual punishments.
No excessive fines or bail.

10. English Bill of Rights
English Bill of Rights applied to colonists also.
One cause of the American Revolution was that the colonists felt that they were being deprived of their rights as promised in the English Bill of Rights.
The Point of All This Is

11. The Colonial Period

12. Early Written Constitutions
1620
The Mayflower Compact

13. Early Written Constitutions
By 1629, colonists in Massachusetts Bay Colony needed a more complete constitution.
Great Fundamentals

14. Early Written Constitutions
In 1639, some colonists left Massachusetts Bay Colony to establish a new colony in Connecticut.
Fundamental Orders
of Connecticut

15. Early Written Constitutions
Basic principles found in all colonial constitutions:
Representative government
Separation of powers