1. Influences on American Government

2. The English Magna Carta
In 1215 in England, King James was considered a “tyrant” with too much power
The people forced the King to sign a document, , “The Great Charter”, or Magna Carta, limiting his powers.
Among other restrictions, the King could not longer request taxes without the consent of his counsel men…which later will become known as Parliament.
Parliament is the law-making body of the British Government

3. The Age of Enlightenment
1600’s in Europe
Urged reason and logic for figuring out nature’s laws
A move away from religion to acceptance of science
Promoted democracy over monarchy

4. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) People could not rule themselves
Give up rights to absolute monarch for fear of a violent death

5. John Locke ( )
Natural Rights – all people are born with basic rights (Life, Liberty, Property)
Social Contract – Relation between government and the people is a contract
People obey laws
Government protects rights
Right to rebel – if the government does not protect rights it is the right of the people to destroy that government

6. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)
Everywhere gov. is oppressing the people
The only fair and just gov. is one the people create

7. Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755)
Gov. needs power but power corrupts
Protect the people by separating the powers of gov. into three branches
Write the laws
Enforce the laws
Interpret the laws

8. Who wrote Common Sense and what was its purpose?
Thomas Paine
Purpose was to encourage American colonist to overthrow British rule, start a revolution

9. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson

10. Two Purposes of Declaration
Declare independence
State the reasons why America must be free from the rule of the King

11. Our First Constitution
In 1777, the Articles of Confederation were written…our first attempt at a constitution to unite all 13 colonies
Recall and know: Why was this document too weak, why did it fail?

12. United States Constitution
By 1789, representatives
met in Philadelphia at the
Constitutional Convention.
IMPORTANT: The new constitution is where all our laws are derived from…this document gives more power to the federal government than to state government, but still gives a huge amount of power to “the people”…the states.