Opening QuestionsOpening Questions

Identify 3 to 5 reasons why people would want to limit the power of their ruler or government.

How might the people go about limiting this power?

ObjectivesObjectives

1. Identify the 3 Basic concepts of government that influenced government in the Colonies

2. Explain the significance of landmark documents such as: the Magna Carta, The Petition of Right, Second Treatise of Government, English Bill of Rights, Mayflower Compact, and The Spirit of Laws.

3. Describe the types of colonies that the English established in North America

How Did the American System of How Did the American System of Government Come About?Government Come About?

Original colonists brought with them to North America knowledge from the English, Native Americans, and Romans.

3 Main Concepts of Government 3 Main Concepts of Government that English Brought to the that English Brought to the

ColoniesColonies Ordered government – Need for an ordered

social system. They created local governments, many still exist today (sheriff, coroner, assessor, justice of the peace, townships, etc.)

Limited government – rights of the individual, government should not be all powerful.

Representative government – gov’t should serve the will of the people and people should have a voice in deciding what the government should and should not do.

Where Did These Concepts Come Where Did These Concepts Come From?From?

Magna Carta (1215)

Mayflower Compact (1620)

Petition of Right (1628)

English Bill of Rights (1689)

Iroquois Confederation (appx. 15th – 17th century)

John Locke’s Second Treatise on Government (1690)

Baron de Montesquieu’s Spirit of Laws (1748)

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense (1776)

The Magna Carta (1215)The Magna Carta (1215)

English nobles forced King John to sign this document because they were tired of his military campaigns and heavy taxes. This document included rights such as:

Limited government (king did not have total power)

trial by jury due process of law

(protection against arbitrary taking of life, liberty, or property)

private property rights

The Petition of Right (1628)The Petition of Right (1628)

King Charles I asked Parliament for tax money, Parliament refused until the king signed The Petition of Right. The Petition of Right limited the king’s power in the following ways…

• No person can be punished or imprisoned without lawful judgment by his peers.

• No martial law (rule by the military) in time of peace, or require homeowners to shelter the king’s troops without their consent.

• The king could not make people pay a tax, give up property, without the representation in parliament.

The English Bill of Rights The English Bill of Rights (1689)(1689)

English Parliament offered the crown to William and Mary of Orange if they agreed to the provisions of the document. • prohibited a standing army in peacetime

(except w/ consent of Parliament)• guaranteed a fair and speedy trial• ensured that all parliamentary elections

be free• allowed subjects to legally petition the

king• right to a free trial• freedom from excessive bail • no cruel and unusual punishment

The Thirteen ColoniesThe Thirteen Colonies

There were three types of colonies in North America: royal, proprietary, and charter.

•The royal colonies were ruled directly by the English monarchy.

•The King granted land to people in North America, who then formed proprietary colonies.

•The charter colonies were mostly self-governed, and their charters were granted to the colonists.

Other Important Other Important DocumentsDocuments

The Mayflower Compact (1620)

Second Treatise of Government (1690)

Spirit of Laws (1748)

The Mayflower Compact (1620)The Mayflower Compact (1620)Male passengers of the Mayflower developed and signed a compact (agreement) establishing a system of government by the people for the first American settlement.

Agreed to join together to create a system of government “of the people” to ensure survival and order in the colony.

Agreed to enact just and equal laws for the good of the colony.

Agreed to follow the laws established by the majority for the good of the colony.

Second Treatise of Second Treatise of Government (1690)Government (1690)

English philosopher John Locke wrote two treatises (essays) on government. In his second treatise, he discussed the responsibilities of a government.

Gov’ts are formed by people voluntarily coming together and agreeing to live in a group according to the will of the majority.

Gov’t exists to serve the people - people have a right to overthrow a government that is not serving their needs and/or working for their best interest.

People trade absolute freedom (no rules) for increased security of life, liberty, and property that government and rules can provide.

Spirit of Laws (1748)Spirit of Laws (1748) French political philosopher Baron de

Montesquieu wrote an essay arguing that governments could be saved from corruption by setting up a system in which different branches exercised legislative, executive, and judicial power. (Division of Powers) 

The importance of a separation of powers between the three branches of government.

The importance of a system of checks and balances in government (each branch has the power to “check” the other branch so one branch does not become too powerful).

Questions…Questions… Do any of these rights sound

familiar?

Why are these rights important?

In Class Assignment…In Class Assignment… In groups, use the summary of your assigned document to do

the following…

Draw a picture that illustrates the main idea of the document.  

Create a slogan (like a bumper sticker) to describe one of the ideals/rights outlined in the document.

Write a two-line rhyming scheme (poem) to describe one of the ideals/rights outlined in the document.

5. Come up with a modern day example to describe one of the ideals/rights outlined in the document.

6. Present your picture, slogan, rhyme, and modern day example to the class.