Influences On American Colonial Govt

Chapter 4 The American Colonies and Their Governments

Lesson 1 Influences on American Colonial Government

Foundations of Democracy• Guiding Question:• What ancient principles, traditions, and events have

shaped the system of government we use today??

• Origins of American Political System– Traced to ancient democracies– Democracy: rule by the people

Foundations of Democracy

• Democracy did not always exist• Fluctuated, people also ruled by monarchs (Kings and

Queens) or single ruler (dictator)

• Earliest foundation: Judaism • Ancient Judaism taught every person has worth, is

equal before the law– This belief is basic principle of democracy

Ancient Democracies• Centuries later, 400 B.C.

Greek city-state Athens– World’s 1st Democracy

• All free men over 18 considered citizens, attended the assembly– 500 member council carried

out its decisions

• This council governed Athens

• Direct Democracy – system in which people govern themselves, all people vote– Possible in Athens due to small

city-state size– Not practical in places with

large populations

• In such places, people choose leaders to govern for them, called a Representative Democracy (Republic)

Ancient Democracies• Ancient Rome created

world’s 1st republic in 509 B.C.– Romans overthrew the King

and placed power in a Senate– Members chosen by the

upper class known as patricians

– Senators elected two members, called consuls, to lead the government

• Both consuls had to agree• Each consul could block

actions of other by saying veto, or “I forbid!”

• Rome’s common citizens, plebeians, grew tired of patricians rule

• Long struggle, plebeians gain political equality in 287 B.C.

Ancient Rome

Early English Influences• Roman Empire collapsed in

400s A.D.• Kings and Lords ruled

Europe for next 700 years• Feudalism – Lords inherited

land, wealth power– Business and trade growth in

towns weakened power of lords

• Kings gained more control of their kingdoms

• Lords resisted the change• In England, lords forced King

John to sign the Magna Carta document, 1215

• Magna Carta (Latin for “Great Charter”)

• Limited king’s power, forbade certain taxes w/out lords’ consent

The Magna Carta• Right to equal treatment under the law• Right to trial by jury –

– free people could no longer be arrested, imprisoned or exiled w/out

• Guaranteed English citizens could only be judged by English law • (meaning the king couldn’t just decide you needed to die)

• Reflected today in the 5th and 6th amendments to the U.S. Constitution

• Important, it established the principle of limited government – the idea that a ruler or government is not all-powerful

The Magna Carta

English Bill of Rights

• In 1689, England’s Parliament strengthened the rights of the Magna Carta with the English Bill of Rights.– Agreement entailed King had to accept rules set

by Parliament• Prevented taxation without representation• Prevented cruel and unusual punishments• (just like our 8th amendment)• Protected the right to bear arms• (just like our 2nd amendment)• Protected freedom of speech (for law makers)

English Bill of Rights

Questions

• How did the Magna Carta establish the principle of limited government?

• How did Europe’s Enlightenment influence ideas about government in what became the United States?

Enlightenment Influences• Conflict between monarch

and Parliament part of larger cultural movement

• European Enlightenment – a movement toward a more scientific, rational worldview

Scientific discoveries in 1600s laws of the universe – Assumption: Apply laws that ruled nature to human nature and society

• New political thinking

• Thomas Hobbes– Believed an agreement, called

the social contract, existed between government and people

– In this contract, people agree to give up some freedom to be ruled by government that protected people’s rights.

Enlightenment Thinkers• John Locke

– Believed in natural rights – idea that all people are born equal with certain God-given rights

– Right to life, to freedom, and own property– Updated the Social Contract, like Hobbes– Montesquieu – developed idea that power of government

divided into separate branches

Enlightenment Thinkers• Colonists and Founding Fathers views about government shaped by

Enlightenment thinkers– The Social Contract– Natural Rights– Separation of powers

– Influenced the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution heavily

– Main Difference:– Hobbes believed in a single ruthless ruler, whereas Locke believed

that if ruler failed to protect the rights of the people, people could choose new leaders

The First Colonial Governments• English colonies began in

1600s• Colony –

– an area of settlement in one place controlled by a country in another place

– Early colonists brought to America the traditions, beliefs, and changed shaping England’s government

• Jamestown– 1st permanent settlement in

Virginia 1607– 1st representative democracy

in colonial America– By Virginia Company –

business owned by London merchants to make money

– Colonists elected leaders to represent them in an assembly – leaders called burgesses

– Assembly: House of Burgesses

The Mayflower Compact

• The Puritans wrote the Mayflower Compact as they arrived in Massachusetts (named after their boat) in 1620

• Puritans reserved the right to choose their own leaders and make their own laws.

The Mayflower Compact

Mayflower Compact

• Established a Direct Democracy– Plymouth, Mass.

• Signers agreed to obey laws of colony

• Held town meetings – Discuss problems, make

decisions

• Compact – written agreement, contract

Chapter Questions• What is the main idea of

the Magna Carta?

• What is guaranteed by the Magna Carta? How is this like our Constitution?

• What beliefs about government did early English colonists bring to America?

• Magna Carta says no one is above the law

• Trial by jury (5th and 6th amendments)

– Assignment Lesson 1 Review p. 91 & Enlightenment thinkers Chart Skills p. 89

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