1. Changes and Influence of Democracy
Traditional View: Kings held absolute power and given power by Divine Right!
New View: People should have a say in their government (Democracy)

2. Greece/Rome Greece was the First to Develop a Democracy
Many Greek tradions are still used today
The Romans carried on the democratic traditions and created a Republic- which we have today in the U.S.
The Romans made written laws and believed in equality for its citizens.

3. Magna Carta (1215) King John tried to raise taxes to
pay for war=outraged nobles.
Document presented to the King by the English Nobles-guaranteed people political rights for the 1st time.
Limited the power of the King

4. Glorious Revolution (1689)
English Protestants believed that King James II wanted to make Catholicism the official religion.
The English people wanted his Protestant daughter Mary to succeed him instead of his Catholic son.
Parliament withdrew support from King James and gave the throne to Mary and her husband.
Parliament now was able to limit the power of the monarchs= Constitutional Monarchy

5. English Bill of Rights (1689)
A list of essential rights of the people. (ex. free speech)
It limited the power of the monarchy and gave the English people a right to question the King
This also set an example for the American colonists to create their own Bill of Rights.

6. Enlightenment
18th century European movement that stressed reason and thought
Thinkers tried to make changes in government, science and religion.
Thinkers such as Locke, Montesquieu and Rousseau tried to change the traditional views of government.

7. American Revolution & Declaration of Independence
America’s struggle for Independence from Britain ( )
Colonists were unfairly taxed: No taxation w/o representation (Magna Carta influence)
Declared Independence in 1776: document written by Thomas Jefferson (Locke influence)

8. U.S. Constitution/Bill of Rights
The U.S. Constitution replaced the “weak” Articles of Confederation in 1787
Bill of Rights were added to insure that states would agree to the new Constitution
Bill of Rights: 1st 10 amendments
-examples: freedom of speech, press, assembly & religion