1. The history of western government

2. Ancient Athens Direct Democracy 500 BC – 300 BC
All free male citizens naturally born in Athens were considered active citizens
In reality this was a small percentage of Athenians that were considered citizens
All citizens directly involved in the Athenian government
Took turns with different government official duties through random selection

3. Ancient roman republic
500 BC – 30 BC
Indirect Democracy – Also known as a – Republic (representatives elected by people)
Patricians and Plebians
Several branches of government
Checks and Balances – limited each branch’s powers
Assemblies
Senate
Consuls

4. feudalism 800 AD – 1400 AD Economy/Govt. based primarily on Land
King
Lord/Baron
Vassal/Knight
Peasants
Divine right of Monarch to rule
King/Queen held all power
Manorialism – economic term
Land is given in exchange for military service and/or crops/valuables
Decentralized – lords held much regional Power over their subjects rather than King

6. Magna carta 1215 AD “The Great Charter”
Established idea of LIMITED GOVERNMENT
King John forced to sign document
63 clauses mostly incorporated issues unique to the middle ages
Limited the power of the King and forced him to follow the law
– Major Points:
King could not tax without consent of the people (basis for the start of Parliament)
King was not above the law and must follow it as well, could not do whatever he pleased…
Free Persons were guaranteed a trial by a jury of their peers
No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions, or outlawed or exiled, or deprived of his standing in any other way, nor will we proceed with force against him, or send others to do so, except by the lawful judgement of his equals or by the law of the land. To no one will we sell, to no one deny or delay right or justice.

7. Commercial revolution
1400 AD – Black Plague wiped out 1/3 of Europe
The Crusades encourage trade with other parts of world
Much less Peasants available for work after the Plague
Peasants became more highly valued for their work = higher wages
Less people = crops less expensive – less money made from the land
Land becomes less valuable, and lords/barons lose the power they once had
Economy shifted, became based on money and trade of goods
Towns were created as centers for trade and production
Merchants and artisans become wealthy and powerful
Feudal System dissipated and national centralized monarchies developed instead
Monarchs no longer had to rely on their lords or vassals, had complete power

8. English civil war / ENLIGHTENMENT PERIOD
AD (Enlightenment)
AD (English Civil War)
Hobbes and Locke – Social Contract Theories
Viewed Human Nature in very different ways
Thus, they saw purpose of government and its structure in very different ways
Baron De Montesquieu – Separation of Power theory
believed different branches of government could
balance each other by limiting each others power

9. Glorious revolution 1688 AD
England had left the Catholic Church and had become a Protestant Nation
James II – new king – wanted to bring Catholicism back as the national religion
Nobles feared more uncertainty in England just after the end of the English Civil War
Parliament asked William III and wife Mary II of Orange to come take over the throne
This occurred peacefully as James II fled to France in exile
A peaceful, bloodless exchange of power!

10. English bill of rights 1689 AD
English Bill of Rights passed by Parliament and ratified by William
Established a Constitutional Monarchy in Britain (British Constitution)
Gave Parliament its own separate powers from the King
Further limited power of the Monarch
Only Parliament could consent to taxation and new laws
No excessive fines or punishment
Some members of Parliament would be elected by the people
Established freedom of speech

11. Influences
Think about the different influences that existed prior to the start of the US Government
Predict: How will these different events, ideas, and philosophers inspire our founding fathers?