1. Chapter 2: The American Colonies and their Government
Lesson 1: Influences on American Colonial Government

2. The Foundation of Democracy
Democracy: a government in which citizens hold the power to rule
Ancient Democracies
In the 400s B.C., the Greek city-state of Athens created the world’s first democracy
Direct Democracy: a form of democracy in which the people vote firsthand
Representative Democracy: a government in which citizens choose a smaller group to govern on their behalf
In 509 B.C., ancient Rome overthrew their king and became the world’s first republic
Republic: a representative democracy where citizens choose their lawmakers

3. Early English Influences
Magna Carta in 1215
Limited the king’s power
Limited Government: the principle that a ruler or a government is not all-powerful
Gave rights to landowners
Equal treatment under the law
Trial by one’s peers
Gave the nobles rights to rebel if the king broke his agreement
Parliament began as a group of advisors to the king
Eventually they became a legislature
Legislature: a group of people that make laws
Petition of Right 1628
Agreement between King Charles I and Parliament, which limited the powers of the king
When he failed to uphold his end of the bargain, he was removed from power

4. The English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights was an agreement between the citizens and England
Agreed that English citizens had rights that no king could violate
Signing the English Bill of Rights settle the struggle between Parliament and the monarch

5. Enlightenment Thinkers
Enlightenment was a culture movement in Europe which sparked new ideas about the government
It was a time where many began asking questions regarding their way of life
Thomas Hobbes developed the social contract theory
Social Contract: an agreement among people in a society with their government
John Locke developed the theory of natural rights
Natural Rights: a freedom people possess relating to life, liberty, and property

6. The First Colonial Government
Jamestown, Virginia settled in 1607 by the Virginia Company
Established a representative democracy with an assembly called the House of Burgesses
Plymouth, Massachusetts settled in 1620 by the pilgrims
Established a direct democracy with the Mayflower Compact
Compact: an agreement, or contract, among a group of people