1. Beginnings of American Government
Chapter 2
Beginnings of American Government

2. Early Traditions: Limited Government: Representative Government:
Concept stating that the rule of the leaders of the country is limited and defined
Representative Government:
Citizens would elect people to represent them
There was heavy British influence on the early formations of the United States
Many of the early documents of the British people became the basis for our founding documents

3. Important Documents: The Magna Carta
“The Great Charter”
C.E. 1215
Signified the beginning of the end for the idea of “Divine Right”
Guaranteed the right to trial by jury
Rulers no longer able to take life, liberty or property without just cause

4. Important Documents: The Petition of Rights
C.E. 1628
Expanded the rights of the English Citizens
Ensured those rights applied to even the common people

5. Important Documents: The English Bill of Rights
C.E. 1688
Brought more rights to the English people
Free elections
No cruel or unusual punishment
Speedy & public trial

6. The Influence of John Locke:
Was (as many founders were) a child of the enlightenment
Gave us the ideas of:
Natural rights: Man exists in a state of nature and is born with certain rights, including life, liberty and property
Consent of the governed: People give up some of their rights to ensure the safety of others. People allow the government to exist & rule, not the other way around.

7. However…
The colonies had no natural rights as far as the king was concerned
The king used the Stamp Act (and later the Intolerable Acts) to assert his authority
The colonists saw this as an abuse of their rights

8. This abuse led to: The Boston Tea Party December 16, 1773
Was a reaction to the Stamp Act
Colonists dressed as Native Americans and dumped two ships-worth of tea into the Boston Harbor

9. This abuse led to: The intolerable Acts (1744)
Colonists responded with the 1st & 2nd Continental Congresses
And the Declaration of independence

10. This all culminated in:
The Declaration of Independence
One of the most influential documents ever written
Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson
Changed the philosophy of future generations