Our Political

Beginnings
Day 6 Basic Concepts of Colonial Government

Learning Target
I will be able to explain the importance of
the Magna Carta and the English Bill of
Rights in relation to the creation of the U.S.
Government.

Origins of US
Government
The earliest settlers in the Americas brought with them their
own government traditions.
The English settlers had an understanding of laws, customs,
practices, and institutions they used to establish government
in the colonies.
British Citizens living in the American Colonies
3 major ideas brought over from England
1) Ordered Government
2) Limited Government
3) Representative Government

Ordered Government
Colonists knew they needed order and
regulation of their relationship with one another.
Created small governments based on the local
customs they knew back in England.
Many of these institutions still exist today.
Sheriff, coroner, assessor, justice of the peace,
grand jury, counties, townships

In order to survive the colonists knew order was

most important. (State of Nature = Bad Times)

Limited Government
The colonists brought with them the idea
that government is not all powerful.
Each individual has certain rights the
government cannot take away.
Even within the monarchy of England the
British had a long history of protecting
individual rights.

Representative
Government
English colonists also brought with them the idea
of a representative government.
Belief the government should serve the will of
the people had existed in England for centuries.
Citizens should get to choose who serves them
and makes decisions in a government. (English
Parliamentary System)
Even under King George, the British Parliament
was highly influential in government.

Important English
Documents
The ideas of an ordered, limited, and
representative came from landmark
English documents.
1) The Magna Carta 1215
2) English Bill of Rights 1688

Plantagenet Dynasty
Reason for the Magna Carta

Plantagenet Empire
King John lost all of
Englands territory in
France.
He started raising taxes
to build an army to take
back his lost lands
The English people
resisted and created the
Magna Carta to limit his
power

Magna Carta
King John was forced to sign this document
due to his heavy taxes and military
decisions.
Created by English Nobility
Limited Kings power
Challenged Absolute Power & Divine Right

Forced the king to follow the same laws as

his subjects

Magna Carta
All people would have access to a court
system, regardless of wealth.
No one could be imprisoned without first
going through the legal system.
It ensures that no one person can gain
unlimited power in our society.
All the laws that applied to the king, applied
to all the people.

English Bill of Rights

2) The Bill of Rights 1688
King James II removed from power
William and Mary took the throne
Glorious Revolution or Bloodless
Revolution
Signed the Bill of Rights.
List of provisions, protections and
rights that the monarch had to
agree too.

English Bill of Rights

Established separation of powers between
the executive and legislative branches
Reinforced Social Contract and consent of
the governed
Made sure that laws, taxes, and the army
are under the control of the legislative
branch instead of the executive branch

King Under a Parking

Lot
http://
www.travelchannel.com/shows/mysteries-atthe-museum/video/king-in-the-parking-lot
The last of the Plantagenet Dynasty