1. Objective 1.02 and Objective 1.03
Competency Goal 1
Objective 1.02 and Objective 1.03

2. Objective 1.03 = Examine the causes of the American Revolution
Competency Goal 1: Investigate the foundations of the American political system and explore basic values and principles of American democracy
Objective 1.02 = Trace and analyze the development of ideas about self-government in British North America
Objective 1.03 = Examine the causes of the American Revolution

3. Objective 1.02 & Objective 1.03 Early Foundations of Law & Government
Magna Carta / Great Charter: Limited power of the king by granting liberties to certain subjects (noblemen)
1215, guaranteed such rights as the right to a fair trial & protection from having property seized w/o due process of law.
Also, basis of British Common Law, or law based on custom and court decisions rather than legislative action.
British Common Law is part of the Law in the U.S.

5. Natural Rights:
A group of British noblemen established the 1st Parliament, a legislative body.
Marked the beginning of Representative Government in the West.
In 1689, following the overthrow (Glorious Revolution) of King James II in Britain, the Parliament passed the British Bill of Rights

6. Document recognized a number of natural rights, or rights of people have simply by being people.
Right to life, liberty, and property.
Also guaranteed the right to a fair trial before a jury of equals and freedom of speech.
Many of these rights included in the U.S. Constitution.

7. Ideas of the Enlightenment
A dominant idea of the Enlightenment was that governments are formed by a social contract (John Locke).
Social Contract Theory says that government comes from the consent of the governed (people), individuals agree to join together equally under a common law for protection from violence, for protection of their rights, and to achieve a common good.
They (people) agree to follow the law of the contract.

8. The Pilgrims established their colony in Mass
The Pilgrims established their colony in Mass., it was based on the Mayflower Compact, which became the foundation of law at the Plymouth colony.
Gave colonists the right to establish a system of laws under which they would live.

9. The Houses of Burgesses, established in Jamestown, Va
The Houses of Burgesses, established in Jamestown, Va., in the 1600s, was the first representative governing body in the New World.
It was based largely on the British Parliament.
In New England, the town meeting was a form of direct democracy.
Landowners in the towns came together to discuss and directly vote on proposals, laws, and policies.
They did not vote through representative

10. A republic is a political system in which the supreme power lies with the citizens.
It has two basic principles: government’s authority arises form the consent of the governed (people) and the sovereign rules by law
In a republic, society is governed by laws that apply equally to all, not governed by absolute rulers.
In a total democracy, majority rules always carries the day.

11. The Founding Fathers felt the need to preserve the civil liberties, or political rights, of those in the minority.
It had to be a limited government, or government with built-in restrictions on its power.
In the 1st & 2nd Continental Congresses limiting the power of the central government was one of their major concerns.

12. The American Revolution
No Taxation Without Representation !!!!!!!!

13. Discontent with Foreign Rule
A number of actions taken by the B. govt. that angered the American colonists.
Convinced the colonists would be better off establishing own country & making own laws.

14. British govt. pass a series on Navigation Acts
The colonies of Great Britain could trade only with Great Britain.
After the Nav. Acts & until the middle of the 18th Century, colonists enjoyed a period of salutary neglect.
Britain did not pay close attention: colonists enjoyed a relatively free period of self-govt.

15. B/t 1754 & 1763, B & F fought the French and Indian War.
B Govt. started taxing colonists to help pay for the war
B. Govt. introduced a system of taxation that continued for the next 2 decades.
Also, passed other laws that colonists saw as unfair

16. Proclamation of 1763: prohibited from settling west of App. Mts.
Writs of Assistance: Gave B customs officials authority to search people’s homes for smuggled goods w/o warrant.
Britain was trying to achieve a favorable balance of trade: Profits made on exports exceeds the costs of imports.
Smuggling was upsetting this favorable balance.

17. James Otis, an early patriot, argued against this invasion of privacy & against B. tax policy.
Otis is believed to have coined phrase “ Taxation without representation is tyranny”

18. Probably most unpopular Act: Stamp Act (1765)
Passed by Parliament w/o input from colonial governing bodies
Placed a tax on all materials printed on paper
Newspapers, pamphlets, and playing cards
All printed matter had to have special stamp on it to show the tax had been paid.
Led to attacks on B tax collectors

19. Merchants boycotted, refused to buy B goods.
Colonies sent a petition to B. king and Parliament.
Said: Colonists could not be taxed except w/ the consent of their elected assemblies.
Stamp Act repealed the following yr.

20. The Declaratory Act was the British response to repealing the Stamp Act in 1766.
It maintained that Britain could tax the colonists without consulting them.

21. Another unpopular law was the Quartering Act of 1765.
If asked, Colonists were required by law to provide temporary housing & food to British soldiers.
Unwanted intrusion into their privacy