1. Origins of Our Government
SSCG1 a and b

2. Today’s Standards
SSCG1 : The student will demonstrate knowledge of the political philosophies that shaped the development of the United States constitutional government.
a. Analyze key ideas of limited government and rule of law as seen in the Magna Carta, the Petition of Rights, and the English Bill of Rights.
b. Analyze the writings of Hobbes (Leviathan), Locke (Second Treatise on Government), and Montesquieu (The Spirit of Laws) as they affect our concept of government.

3. A Little History…
In England from around 870 to 1200, the people lived under kings with no rights.
The kings of Europe ruled with absolute power. Until…this guy

5. Magna Carta
King John came to power just after his beloved brother died fighting the Crusades.
King John was not a good ruler; he was a tyrant
The noble (wealthy) people of England fought back and got King John to sign the Magna Carta in 1215
The Magna Carta guaranteed that:
Free people could not be arrested, put in prison, or forced to leave their nation unless they were given a trial by a jury of their peers
Citizens of England could only be judged by English law
The rights of Parliament (legislature) were protected from the monarch

6. Petition of Right
The kings ruled with the Magna Carta for about 400 years before the Petition of Right in 1628.
Charles I signed the Petition of Right which guaranteed:
A limit on taxation with out Parliament’s permission
No forced quartering, or housing, of soldiers
No imprisonment without cause which solidified the Magna Carta

7. English Bill of Rights
After the execution of Charles I and the English Civil War, the Glorious Revolution of William and Mary (1689) brought the English Bill of Rights to the citizens.
The new Bill of Rights included:
The right to petition, or request, the government to improve or change laws
Separation of powers
Limits on the power of the king or queen
Fair punishment if founded guilty of a crime

9. Limited Government
Choose one of the documents and explain how they are examples of limited government.

11. Background Info Every country in Europe was ruled by kings and queens.
The everyday citizens did not have any rights.
The nobles of England had the most rights of all the people in Europe.
The philosophers of the Enlightenment began developing ideas about what governments should be.

12. Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes was an English political philosopher
He published Leviathan in 1651 in which he argued the Social Contract Theory
The Social Contract is an agreement by individuals to form a government.
He believed that everyday people surrender part of their freedom in order for protection from a ruler
They want to be protected even if their ruler is cruel

13. John Locke
John Locke used Hobbes’ ideas to argue against autocratic governments
He wrote the Second Treatise on Civil Government in 1690
He wrote that people have certain Natural Rights
These rights include life, liberty, and property
He believed government could not take away these rights, nor would people have to surrender these rights
He stated that if the government did not protect the people they could rebel and form a new government

14. Montesquieu Montesquieu was a French philosopher
He wrote The Spirit of Laws in 1750
He believed a separation of powers was needed to preserve liberty.
The division of powers of government among separate institutions or branches
Used by the Founding Fathers for our three branches of government

15. Get out your standards sheet and complete it for SSCG1-2
Warm Up
Get out your standards sheet and complete it for SSCG1-2

16. Study for your test QUIETLY!