Foundations of American Government

1
Foundations of American Government

• Objective 1.02

2
English Influence

• Magna Carta (1215)protected the nobles
  privileges and upheld their authority, rights
  given to all landholders
• Due process of law
• Trial by a jury of peers
• Speedy and unbiased trial
• No cruel punishment and excessive fines
• Parliament (late 1300s)legislature, law-making
  body developed by nobles and church officials

3

• English Bill of Rights (1689)further limited
  Kings power
• Members of Parliament freely elected
• King cant impose taxes w/o Parliaments approval
• Gave citizens civil liberties
• Common lawupheld decisions of previous cases in
  court

4
Enlightenment Ideas

• Natural Rightsright given by God life,
  liberty, property
• Social Contract Theory people give up certain
  freedoms in return for rights
• John Locke if govt. doesnt protect, people can
  revolt
• Common good/Civic virtuewith rights comes duties
  and responsibilities

5
Colonial Self-Government

• House of Burgesses
• First representative assembly for making laws
• Created in Jamestown
• Mayflower Compact
• Govt. would be ruled by the consent of the
  governed
• Set up direct democracy (every citizen has a vote
  in decisions)
• Matters were attended to in town meetings

6

• Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
• Created in 1639
• First written constitution in North America
• 1st and 2nd Continental Congress
• Tightening of British control upset colonists
• They formed a political body to list their
  grievances and represent their political
  interests
• The 2nd met after the demands from the 1st were
  not met