ROOTS OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

OUR ENGLISH HERITAGE

• In feudal times English Noblemen were given land if they pledged to support the King.

• In return the Nobles gave Kings: armies, equipment and taxes to support wars.

• In 1215 the Nobles rebelled.

Magna Carta

• King John was forced, by the Nobles, to sign an agreement that limited his own power and gave some rights to the nobles.

• King John admitted that his power had limits.

Parliament

• Henry III followed John to the throne.• He met regularly with a group of Nobles

and church officials.• This group of advisors grew into a

lawmaking body by the late 1300’s.• The King still ruled England but the

Parliament made most day to day decisions.

• Eventually divided into two groups or houses (House of Lords and House of Commons)

Petition of Right

• 1628 King Charles asked for money from Parliament and was turned down.

• He began to oppress anyone who openly disagreed with him.

• Parliament reacted by passing the Petition of Right which granted basic rights to the people in exchange for money for the King.

Petition of Right

• People were granted:No taxes without consent of

ParliamentNo imprisonment without trialNo “quartering soldiers”No martial law in time of peace

English Bill of Rights

• 1689 (a time of great unrest)• Parliament removed King James II and

installed William and Mary of Orange (why is this important?)

• To ensure power the English Bill of Rights was written.

• Laws, taxes, army all were placed under the Parliament’s control and a list of basic rights established.

The Colonies

• English citizens left their country to settle in America

• Colonies established.• 1607 Jamestown was the first settlement, set

up a representative body to make rules.• 1620 Pilgrims landed at Plymouth in what is

now New England• Signed an agreement called the Mayflower

Compact.• The men would vote on decisions.

Colonial Governments

• By 1773 Thirteen Colonies were established.

• Each colony had it’s own government.

• Colonial governments included a legislative body. (like Parliament)

Mercantilism: is an economic policy…Wealth is power, key to

wealth is export more than importEuropean countries competed for

world power and needed colonies to provide necessary raw

materials.Colonies’ role: provide raw

materials (so mother country does not have to import from other

nations) and markets for exportsFavorable balance of trade for

England

• European nations relied on strong central governments to enforce mercantile

doctrines• Americans helped British maintain naval

supremacy by providing wood for ships, ships’ stores, sailors, trade (enumerated commodities- goods that can only be

traded to Britain)• Americans provide profitable market for

English manufactured goods• Americans discouraged from buying

these goods from other countries

• Most famous of laws to enforce mercantilism were the Navigation Laws (1650)–Restricted trade to English

vessels (no Dutch)• Additional laws: Goods

bound for colonies had to go to England first for duties

• Colonists also not allowed to manufacture certain products to not compete with British

Was it reasonable for England to pass laws

such as these to control Colonial

trade?It was difficult for Great Britain to

enforce these laws because of the

distance.Colonists broke the

law and smuggled and traded with other

countries.

The Navigation Acts 1650No country could trade with the

colonies unless the goods were shipped in either colonial or

English ships.

All vessels had to be operated by crews that were at least three-quarters English or colonial

The colonies could export certain products only to England

Almost all goods traded between the colonies and Europe first had to pass through an English port.

Advantages of mercantilism• VA/MD tobacco farmers guaranteed

monopoly on English market.• Rights of Englishmen, but some self-

government, no taxes to support army/navy to protect them

• Until 1763, Navigation Laws were not a burden because laxly enforced (salutary neglect)

• Merchants disregarded or evaded restrictions, some got rich by smuggling (e.g. John Hancock)

• Average American better off economically than average English

Disadvantages of mercantilism• Mercantilism stifled economic initiative

due to lack of freedom• South favored due to Tobacco, sugar

and rice• Parliament set up a Board of Trade

with Admiralty Courts. Took away the right of trial by jury and were considered guilty until proven innocent.

• Most important, mercantilism was insulting: colonies felt they were being milked like cows, kept in economic adolescence

• British failed to see an emerging nation

Trade

Enumerated Commodities• Lumber• Tobacco• Rice• Indigo• Furs• Sugar

To England

Manufactured Goods

• Furniture• Clothing• Colonials had

not factories.

From England to Colonies

Strange Sign

• Forced by King James II

• NE Colonies, NJ & NY

Goals• Restrict Colonial trade• Defend Colonies• Stop Colonial smuggling

Sir Edmund Andros• Gain control over Colonies• Eliminated town meetings,

the press and schools• Taxed without the consent

of the governed

• Collapsed after Glorious Revolution

The Salem Witch Trials took place in Salem, Massachusetts from March to September 1693, was one of the most notorious episodes

in early American history. Based on the accusations of two young girls, Elizabeth Parris and

Abigail Williams. Under British law and Puritan society those who were accused of consorting with the devil were considered felons, having committed a crime against their government. The punishment was hanging.

19 hanged, 1 pressed, 55 confessed as witches and 150 awaited trial.

Shows the strictness of Puritan societyOf the 50 who actually confessed, none were hanged.

Eventually ended by the Governor when his wife was accused

Causes disapproval of Reverend Parrisland disputes between families,

Indian taught witchcraft to girls.

Girls caught dancing, began to throw fits and accuse people of bewitching (To put under one's power by magic or cast a spell

over) them to not get in trouble.

Try to focus on this picture- it will drive you crazy!

Zenger decision was a landmark case which paved the way for the

eventual freedom of the press.

Zenger Case, 1734-5: New York newspaper assailed corrupt local

governor, charged with libel, defended by

Alexander Hamilton

• John Peter Zenger, a New York publisher charged with libel against the colonial governor

• Zenger’s lawyer argues that what he wrote was true, so it can’t be libel (defamation of character)• English law says it doesn’t matter if it’s true or

not• Jury acquits Zenger anyway

• Not total freedom of the press, but newspapers now took greater risks in criticism of political

figures.

Are they on a balcony…or a patio?