1 / 15

English Heritage in America: Seeds of Self-Government

Explore how English traditions of limited government and self-rule were transplanted to America, from Magna Carta to the Mayflower Compact, shaping colonial self-governance. Learn how Parliament's influence and the roots of common law laid the foundation for American democracy. Discover early colonial governments, the role of the House of Burgesses, and the impact of Salutary Neglect.

carolsanchez
Download Presentation

English Heritage in America: Seeds of Self-Government

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Our English Heritage C & E

  2. EQs • What were the English traditions of limited and self gov’t? • How did colonists transplant English ideas of gov’t to America?

  3. Key Terms • Monarch • Parliament • Precedent • Common law • Colony • Charter • Compact • Salutary Neglect

  4. Key Concepts • Colonial traditions of self gov’t

  5. John Dickinson

  6. Influences from England’s Early Gov’t • We can trace our pol. & legal traditions back to England • History of limited & representative gov’t • England had a monarch • King or queen

  7. Magna Carta • 1199 - King John treated people & nobles poorly • Nobles rebelled in 1215 • King John forced to sign Magna Carta (“Great Charter”) • Protected nobles privileges • Granted certain rights to all landholders • Equal treatment under the law • Trial by one’s peers • Limited power of the monarch

  8. Parliament • Legislature • Lawmaking body • Est. in late 1300s • Removed King James II & put his daughter (+her husband) on throne • Glorious Rev. • William & Mary • 1689 – English Bill of Rights • Monarch must have Parliament’s consent • Freely elected members • Free speech during meetings • Fair trials by jury • Banned cruel & unusual punishments

  9. Common Law • Based on precedent • Ruling in an earlier case • Judge must make a consistent ruling • Common law based on customs & precedents • Laws about property, contracts, & personal injury

  10. Bringing the English Heritage to America • Colony • Grp of people in one place who are ruled by a parent country elsewhere

  11. House of Burgesses • 1608 - Eng. Est. 1st colony @Jamestown, VA • Chartered by king • Virginia Company • 1st representative assembly in America • House of Burgesses • Beginning of self-gov’t

  12. Mayflower Compact • 1620 – Separatists came to Massachusetts • Pilgrims • Came on the Mayflower • Settled Plymouth Colony • Written plan of gov’t – Mayflower Compact • Agreement among a grp on how to govern • Set up direct democracy • Led to town meetings

  13. Early Colonial Gov’ts • By 1733 • 13 colonies from Mass to GA • Each had legislature & governor • Americans grew used to mak’g own decisions • Salutary Neglect • Parliament worried about stuff in England and let colonies do as they pleased

More Related