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Influences on American Government

Influences on American Government. Chapter 1. Initial Response. What is meant by fair and equal laws?. Brainstorm. List what you know about the beginning of our country. How did the US Govt. begin?. Formed because the colonists did not like the way they were treated by England

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Influences on American Government

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  1. Influences on American Government Chapter 1

  2. Initial Response • What is meant by fair and equal laws?

  3. Brainstorm List what you know about the beginning of our country

  4. How did the US Govt. begin? • Formed because the colonists did not like the way they were treated by England • Colonists decided to make their own government and they broke away from England • They wanted to make rules/laws that were fair • Rights of the people were written into law • Political ideas came from other governments; Greece, Rome and especially England

  5. Influence of Greece Greece • Democracy is from the Greek language • Democracy means “rule by the people” • People divided into four groups • Only free men ruled; the Assembly • Athens, the city-state, had the best government • City-states were always at war with one another

  6. Influence of Rome • Citizens elected people to speak and act for them • People chose representatives • Government was called a Republic • Free men, wealthy and common men, ran the govt. • Men appointed Senators • Senate most powerful part of govt. • Common people had say in govt., they could veto any rule or law

  7. The English Government • Changed many times • 1154 Henry II became king • He appointed judges and they decided the rules/laws • Two types of laws; ones that everyone obeys and those that deal with rights and duties for individuals • The king appointed a jury

  8. The Magna Carta • Signed by King John • Magna Carta means Great Charter • A charter is a written agreement • It gave certain rights to the English people and limited the king’s power

  9. What did the Magna Carta state? • King must ask advice of nobles in important matters • No special taxes unless nobles agreed • No free man in prison without being judged by peers (trial by jury) • Due process by law (protection against taking life, liberty or property) • People were allowed to elect a Parliament

  10. The Petition of Right • Parliament felt that the power of king was too strong • The Petition of Right listed the things that a king could not do (1628) • A king could not force rich people to make loans • People could not be put in prison without a jury trial • No martial law or sheltering troops

  11. The English Bill of Rights • Passed in 1689 during the rule of William and Mary • Stated the powers of the king and queen • No standing army during peacetime • Fair trial by all citizens • Subjects were free of excessive bail • Freedom from “cruel and unusual punishment”

  12. Impact on American Government • Magna Carta- Allowed a Parliament. The colonists in America followed the same system. The US Congress and state legislatures are based on this system. • Petition of Right and English Bill of Rights- • The settlers who came to America knew their rights from the English Bill of Rights. Those rights were very similar to the new ones written in America

  13. The Enlightenment • Period of time where people questioned tradition, government, religion, etc. • American govt. considered ideas from European political thinkers

  14. Brainstorm What did the government look like before the Enlightenment?

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