The Colonial PeriodThe Colonial Period
By the time the first colonists reached NorthAmerica, the idea that government was not all-powerful had become an accepted part of theEnglish system
Magna CartaMagna Carta
The Great Charter, King John forced to sign in1215. This document established the principle oflimited government
Limited government- the power ofthe monarch or government waslimited, not absolute
The Magna Carta provided protectionagainst unjust punishment and the loss oflife, liberty, and property except according tothe law.The Magna Carta provided protectionagainst unjust punishment and the loss oflife, liberty, and property except according tothe law.
King John agreed thatcertain taxes could not belevied without popularconsent.
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POLITICAL DOCUMENTS AFFECTING LIFE IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES
The Magna Carta:
power of the kinglimited
.In 1625 Charles I takesthe throne as King ofEngland.
He dismisses Parliament, lodged troops inprivate homes, and placed some areasunder martial law.
In 1628 Parliamentrepresentatives force the kingto sign the Petition of Right,severely limiting the king’spowerIn 1628 Parliamentrepresentatives force the kingto sign the Petition of Right,severely limiting the king’spower
No longer could theEnglish monarch collecttaxes withoutParliament’s consent,imprison people withoutjust cause, house troops inprivate homes withoutthe permission of theowner, or declare martiallaw unless the countrywas at warNo longer could theEnglish monarch collecttaxes withoutParliament’s consent,imprison people withoutjust cause, house troops inprivate homes withoutthe permission of theowner, or declare martiallaw unless the countrywas at war
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POLITICAL DOCUMENTS AFFECTING LIFE IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES
The Magna Carta:
power of the kinglimited
The Petition of Right:Monarch could notcollect taxes withoutParliament’s consent
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1688 Parliament removedJames II from the throne andcrowned William III andMary II. This peacefulremoval of power was calledthe Glorious Revolution.
Parliament passed theEnglish Bill of RightsParliament passed theEnglish Bill of Rights
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Five KeyIdeas oftheEnglishBill ofRightsFive KeyIdeas oftheEnglishBill ofRights
#1 Monarchs do not have a divine right to rule.(They rule with the consent of the people’srepresentatives in Parliament)
“God and my right”
#2 The monarch must have Parliament’s consentto suspend laws, levy taxes, or maintain an army
#3 The monarch cannot interfere withparliamentary elections and debates.
#4 The people have a right topetition the government andhave a fair and speedy trial bya jury of their peers.#4 The people have a right topetition the government andhave a fair and speedy trial bya jury of their peers.
5 The peopleshould not besubject to crueland unusualpunishmentsor to excessivefines and bail.#5 The peopleshould not besubject to crueland unusualpunishmentsor to excessivefines and bail.
A major cause of theAmerican Revolution wasthat the colonists felt theywere being deprived of thesebasic rights.A major cause of theAmerican Revolution wasthat the colonists felt theywere being deprived of thesebasic rights.
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POLITICAL DOCUMENTS AFFECTING LIFE IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES
The Magna Carta:
power of the kinglimited
The Petition of Right:Monarch could notcollect taxes withoutParliament’s consent
English Bill of Rights:Monarch has no“divine right” to rule;document set limits onwhat a ruler could andcould not do
Limited Government
Representative Government
Definition
Definition
The power of the ruler or government is limited,not all-powerful
How idea was put into practice
How idea was put into practice
The people or their representatives in Parliamenthad to approve taxes; the ruler could not interferewith Parliament; the accused people had the rightto a trial by jury; the people could not besubjected to cruel or unusual punishment
TWO IDEAS ABOUT GOVERNMENT FROM AMERICA’S ENGLISH HERITAGE
The Ideas of John Locke
Two TreatisesonGovernmentpublished in1690.Two TreatisesonGovernmentpublished in1690.
His work iswidely readand discussedin bothEurope andAmerica.His work iswidely readand discussedin bothEurope andAmerica.
Locke’s ideasregarded aspolitical truth.
Locke’s ideas have been calledthe “textbook of the AmericanRevolution”Locke’s ideas have been calledthe “textbook of the AmericanRevolution”
Locke reasoned that all peoplewere born free, equal, andindependent.Locke reasoned that all peoplewere born free, equal, andindependent.
Locke believed that peoplepossessed natural rights tolife, liberty, and property atthe time they lived in a state ofnature, before governmentswere formed.Locke believed that peoplepossessed natural rights tolife, liberty, and property atthe time they lived in a state ofnature, before governmentswere formed.
People contracted amongthemselves to formgovernments to protect theirnatural rights
Locke argued that if agovernment failed to protectthese natural rights, thepeople could change thatgovernment.Locke argued that if agovernment failed to protectthese natural rights, thepeople could change thatgovernment.
Locke’s ideas wererevolutionary in an age whenmonarchs still claimed theyhad God-given absolutepowers.Locke’s ideas wererevolutionary in an age whenmonarchs still claimed theyhad God-given absolutepowers.
Locke denied that people wereborn with an obligation toobey their rulersLocke denied that people wereborn with an obligation toobey their rulers
Essentially government islegitimate only as long aspeople continue to consent toitEssentially government islegitimate only as long aspeople continue to consent toit
Both theDeclarationofIndependenceand theConstitution,writtennearly acentury afterLocke lived,reflectedLocke’srevolutionaryideasBoth theDeclarationofIndependenceand theConstitution,writtennearly acentury afterLocke lived,reflectedLocke’srevolutionaryideas
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1620
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POLITICAL DOCUMENTS AFFECTING LIFE IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES
The Magna Carta:
power of the kinglimited
The Petition of Right:Monarch could notcollect taxes withoutParliament’s consent
English Bill of Rights:Monarch has no“divine right” to rule;document set limits onwhat a ruler could andcould not do
Two Treatises on Government(John Locke): all people bornfree, equal, and independent;had right to life, liberty, andproperty; could formgovernments to protect theirrights
Governmentin theColonies
WrittenConstitutionsWrittenConstitutions
MayflowerCompact-Pilgrimssigned in 1620stands as the firstexample of manycolonial plans forself-governing.MayflowerCompact-Pilgrimssigned in 1620stands as the firstexample of manycolonial plans forself-governing.
1215
1620
1628
1636
1639
1688
1690
POLITICAL DOCUMENTS AFFECTING LIFE IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES
The Magna Carta:
power of the kinglimited
The MayflowerCompact: colonistschoose leaders andwrote rules to governthemselves
The Petition of Right:Monarch could notcollect taxes withoutParliament’s consent
English Bill of Rights:Monarch has no“divine right” to rule;document set limits onwhat a ruler could andcould not do
Two Treatises on Government(John Locke): all people bornfree, equal, and independent;had right to life, liberty, andproperty; could formgovernments to protect theirrights
GreatFundamentals-the first basicsystem of lawsin the EnglishColoniesGreatFundamentals-the first basicsystem of lawsin the EnglishColonies
1215
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1688
1690
POLITICAL DOCUMENTS AFFECTING LIFE IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES
The Magna Carta:
power of the kinglimited
The MayflowerCompact: colonistschoose leaders andwrote rules to governthemselves
The Petition of Right:Monarch could notcollect taxes withoutParliament’s consent
The Great Fundamentals(Massachusetts constitution):established comprehensivesystem of laws for colony
English Bill of Rights:Monarch has no“divine right” to rule;document set limits onwhat a ruler could andcould not do
Two Treatises on Government(John Locke): all people bornfree, equal, and independent;had right to life, liberty, andproperty; could formgovernments to protect theirrights
Fundamental Orders ofConnecticut-first formalconstitution or charter drawnup on American soilFundamental Orders ofConnecticut-first formalconstitution or charter drawnup on American soil
1215
1620
1628
1636
1639
1688
1690
POLITICAL DOCUMENTS AFFECTING LIFE IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES
The Magna Carta:
power of the kinglimited
The MayflowerCompact: colonistschoose leaders andwrote rules to governthemselves
The Petition of Right:Monarch could notcollect taxes withoutParliament’s consent
The Great Fundamentals(Massachusetts constitution):established comprehensivesystem of laws for colony
Fundamental Orders(Connecticut): Peoplehad the right to electthe governor, judges,and representatives tomake laws
English Bill of Rights:Monarch has no“divine right” to rule;document set limits onwhat a ruler could andcould not do
Two Treatises on Government(John Locke): all people bornfree, equal, and independent;had right to life, liberty, andproperty; could formgovernments to protect theirrights
Soon after,othercoloniesbegandrawing uptheir ownchartersSoon after,othercoloniesbegandrawing uptheir owncharters
Colonial LegislaturesColonial Legislatures
Representative governmentwas an established traditionin America well before thecolonists declared theirindependence in 1776.Representative governmentwas an established traditionin America well before thecolonists declared theirindependence in 1776.
Separation of Powers-thedivision of power between thebranches of governmentSeparation of Powers-thedivision of power between thebranches of government
Limited Government
Representative Government
Definition
Definition
The power of the ruler or government is limited,not all-powerful
The people elect delegates to make laws andconduct government.
How idea was put into practice
How idea was put into practice
The people or their representatives in Parliamenthad to approve taxes; the ruler could not interferewith Parliament; the accused people had the rightto a trial by jury; the people could not besubjected to cruel or unusual punishment
Based on John Locke’s ideas that the peoplepossessed natural rights, that they could form agovernment to protect their rights, that they werenot born with an obligation to obey rulers, andthat government was legitimate only as long as thepeople continued to consent to it, the peopleformed a government with a Parliament that couldmake and pass laws the ruler had to recognize.
TWO IDEAS ABOUT GOVERNMENT FROM AMERICA’S ENGLISH HERITAGE