1. Origins of American Government

2. An English Political Heritage
Settled villages
Traded & farmed
Controlled colonies
English political thought:
Limited government
Ordered government
Representative government

3. Judeo- Christian Belief
Greeks and Romans: believed people had dignity and worth only if contributed to society
Contrast to Jewish ideals: each person had worth based on being alive!
Prophets preached against war, oppression, and greed
Christianity opposed injustice and inequality
Stressed equality of all human beings
Christians and Jews expelled from homelands by Romans

4. From then until now Greece invented Democracy
The Roman Republic and Greeks ideas
Rome ruled Britain
Britain’s empire = N. America
British studied Greeks and Romans

5. 1215 CE the Magna Carta Until 1215CE Britain ruled by absolute Kings
The Barons of King John grew angry over heavy taxes, costly wars and jail w/out trial.
Magna Carta
Start of limited government in Britain

6. Petition of Right 1628 CE England was ruled by Charles I
Charles ignored Parliament
heavy taxes,
unpopular wars
threw people in prison without trial
Petition of Right- king lost some power
Charles I executed after the English Civil war

7. Ideas of John Locke English philosopher
People born “with a clean slate” and everyone is equal.
Profited from slave trade did not own slaves
All human beings are born with natural rights “Life, liberty and property”
Oppressed overthrow government if tyrannical or not meeting needs

8. 8

9. Does this mean we have the right to overthrow our government?
Governments have a vested interest in holding on to power.
Sedition- advocating the violent overthrow of your government = illegal.
Consequences: prison, injury or death.

10. English Bill of Rights 1688 Monarchs give up some of their rights.
Consent of the Parliament
King
Right fair and speedy trial
Petition the King
No excessive fines or cruel or unusual punishments