• Common Law• Colony• Charter• Compact• Amend• Ratify• Preamble• Declaration of

Independence

ROOTS OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACYVocabulary Needed

• Monarch• Legislature• Parliament• Precedent• Constitution• Bicameral• Confederation• Magna Carta• Mercantilism

How did the Founders plan our nation?

Chapter Two: Roots of American Democracy.

Pages 26 – 49 Civics Today

When did the King John lose his power?

Many of our rights can be traced back to the political and legal traditions of England.

Until 1215 the monarch held absolute power. The King granted nobles vast amounts of land for their loyalty, military support and tax payments.

Why did the noblemen revolt?

Magna Carta

King John began to abuse the rights of the noblemen. Taxes were rising, arrests were common, and land was taken. The nobles rebelled and forced King John to sign the Magna Carta (Latin for “Great Charter”).

What were the ideas in the Magna Carta?

From where did the ideas come?

The Magna Carta was a contract that limited the power of the king. It protected nobles’ rights, gave equal treatment under the law and trial by peers. NO ONE WAS ABOVE THE LAW! – not even the King or Queen

Henry III followed King John and met regularly with nobles and clergy. They gave advise to him. The group grew in numbers and power. The common people were eventually represented. This group became a legislative body known as Parliament.

How did Parliament form?

Why was this called the Glorious Revolution?

Parliament removed King James II in 1688 and placed William and Mary on the throne. Mary was King James’ daughter.

From that time on no ruler would have more power than the legislature. The English Bill of Rights in 1689 was passed by Parliament was agreed to by the new monarchs.

What did it state?

Bellringer

Which system of law is based on precedent and customs?

Which system is laws is America’s personal injury, contract and property law based upon?

What rights were preserved?

Create Special Courts

Raise an Army without Parliament’s

consent

Suspend Parliament’s

Laws

Impose Taxes

English Bill of Rights made clear that the Monarch could not:

The Bill of Rights declared:

Free Elections in Parliament

Free Speech in Parliament Meetings

Every Citizen Fair Trial

Every Citizen Trial By Jury

Cruel and Unusual Punishment Banned

What are they looking for?

COMMON LAW

At one point England did not have written laws. They had rules and these had the force of law. Courts developed and their decisions became the basis of law. Judges would look for a precedent to decide their rulings.

• Precedents

• Customs

What 2 areas do we use to settle conflict based on common law?

Establishing Colonies in America

• In the 1600-1700’s England was busy establishing colonies in America– Ruled by a parent country

somewhere else

• First colonist remained loyal to the English political traditions– Expected a voice in their

government and basic rights.

1st permanent English Settlement?

1607

What was the 1st representative assembly in the English colony called?

How much power?

Virginia House of Burgesses

Little to None

Mayflower Compact

1620 A new group of colonists arrived. Pilgrims…They…?

Who signed the contract?

Drew up a written plan of government.

What was the plan called?

Why was this done before they left the ship? 41 White Men

Needed Gov’t.

Signing the Compact on Board the Mayflower by Tompkins H. Matteson

Direct Democracy

What type of democracy did the Mayflower Compact establish?

Green indicates?

Bellringer

• Why did the American colonists grow used to making their own decisions?

• How did this affect them later on?

Study the two pictures. In what group would you have belonged? Why?

CAUSE AND EFFECT

• Policy of Mercantilism forced Colonist to buy

• 1765 Stamp Act (newspapers./leg. doc.)

• 1766 Declaratory Act• 1767 Townshend Acts• 1773 Tea Act (Unfair

trade for E. Br. Ind.Co)• Coercive Acts (Intolerable

Acts)

• Colonial business suffered

• “No Taxation Without Representation (boycott Eng. Goods)

• Boycott Eng. Goods since Stamp Act was repealed.

• Blocked/ Bost. Tea Party• First Continental Cong.

BRITISH ACTIONS COLONIST RESPONSES

King George III responded with force. What 2 battles changed the minds of colonists?

May 1775 colonist leaders meet again. What was the meeting called? Purpose?

January 1776

To write a document that would announce independence!

Who was the major contributor to this document? What did it state?

These are the beliefs concerning the rights of individuals. Rough Draft?

The Declaration of Independence goes on to say… What does it mean?

Pg.44-47 Civics Today

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, …

The First Constitution was called…

The Articles of Confederation STRENGTHS:  

1.To declare war and make peace2.To coin and borrow money3.To detail with foreign countries

and sign treaties4.To operate post offices

WEAKNESSES:• The national government could not force the

states to obey its laws.• It did not have the power to tax• It did not have the power to enforce laws• Congress lacked strong and steady

leadership• There was no national army or navy• There was no system of national courts• Each state could issue its own paper money• Each state could put tariffs on trade between

states. (A tariff is a tax on goods coming in from another state or country.)

Under the Articles of Confederation who held the power? National or State government?

STATES

The End!

2011 S. Marshall

Slidell High School