Unit One—America’s Political Heritage

1. Unit One—America’s Political Heritage Chapter 2 in Civics Today

2. I. Our English Heritage • A. Magna Carta (Great Charter) signed in 1215—included written rights of citizens and limited the authority and power of the monarch. • 1. Resulted from nobles who rebelled against King John of England

3. I. Our English Heritage • 2. Expressed the rights of the noble class (did not include rights for peasants) • 3. King’s power had certain limits • 4. Included equal treatment under the law and jury of peers. King John (bad guy in Robin Hood)

4. I. Our English Heritage • B. Origins of Parliament • 1. King Henry III (1207–1272) met with advisory group; their meetings were called parliaments • 2. By late 1300s, Parliament had developed into a legislature (law making body) though the king still ruled • 3. Eventually Parliament split into two parts (House of Lords and House of Commons)

5. King Henry III and Parliament

6. I. Our English Heritage • C. Glorious Revolution (late 1600s) • a. King James was removed in 1688; replaced by William and Mary (James’ daughter) • King James tried to “ignore” the Magna Carta • b. Demonstrates Parliament’s power is now greater than the king’s

7. William and Mary and Bill of Rights

8. I. Our English Heritage • D. English Bill of Rights (1689)- gave Parliament sole power to make laws, raise taxes and control army; sealed Parliament’s power • Signed by William and Mary before taking power Nice try, your Majesty, but you don’t need a new castle this year!

9. I. Our English Heritage • E. Unwritten Constitution • 1. England’s government not planned • 2. Many written documents helped shape their government

10. I. Our English Heritage • F. Common Law • 1. Originally, England had no laws as we have today • 2. Over time, a system of courts developed and the courts’ decisions became the basis of a system of law • 3. When judges decided a case, they looked for a precedent (a ruling in an earlier case that was similar)

11. I. Our English Heritage • 4. This system of law based on precedent is known as common law • 5. American laws about property, contracts and personal injury are based on English common law

12. II. Roots of American Government • Colonists looked to the history, experiences, and ideas of others in developing their own ideas about government

13. A. Ancient Greece and Rome • 1. Athenians created first direct democracy • 2. Romans founded a republic The Parthenon Plato The Forum

14. II. Roots of American Government • B. The English Tradition • Previous slides and more to come

15. II. Roots of American Government • C. The Philosophers of the Enlightenment • 1. During the period of Enlightenment, European philosophers stressed the use of reason and scientific method • 2. Colonists were inspired by the philosophers and ideas that grew out of this movement: *Who remember some Enlightenment philosophers from World History?

16. II. Roots of American Government • a. John Locke- argued government exists for the people; the purpose of government is to protect natural rights Locke

17. II. Roots of American Government • b. Montesquieu- proposed separation of powers Montesquieu

18. II. Roots of American Government • c. Jean-Jacques Rousseau- government rules based on social contract Rousseau

19. III. The Colonial Experience • A colony is a group of people in one place who are ruled by the government of another place

21. III. The Colonial Experience • A. Puritan New England • 1. Massachusetts • a. Plymouth Colony- founded in 1620 by Separatists (Pilgrims); became second permanent English colony in North America • i. Before arriving, passengers of the Mayflower signed the Mayflower Compact out of concern for legitimacy of their colonial charter • ii. Signers pledged to obey laws • iii. Established a direct democracy

22. III. The Colonial Experience • b. Massachusetts Bay Colony- John Winthrop (Puritan) obtained a royal charter in 1629 for the MA Bay Colony (joint-stock company) • i. Plymouth became part of MA Bay Colony • ii. “City Upon a Hill”

23. III. The Colonial Experience • 2. Rhode Island • a. Founded by Roger Williams (1636); he negotiated with the Narragansett tribe for the land • b. Williams guaranteed separation of church and state & religious freedom • c. Anne Hutchinson later fled to RI once banished from MA (1638)

25. III. The Colonial Experience • B. Jamestown- first permanent English settlement in North America • 1. 1607- Virginia Company (joint-stock company) established Jamestown under leadership of John Smith • 2. 1618- VA Company introduced head-right system • 3. 1619- House of Burgesses formed (first form of representative democracy) • 4. 1624- Virginia becomes a royal colony

27. III. The Colonial Experience • C. Middle Colonies • 1. New York • a. 1664- Duke of York drove the Dutch out of New Netherlands; renamed the area New York • b. As the new proprietor, he gave a portion of his land (New Jersey) to friends • c. Important harbor for trade

28. III. The Colonial Experience • 2. Pennsylvania • a. 1681- William Penn (Quaker) received charter from King Charles II • b. 1682- acquired more land (which became Delaware) from Duke of York • c. Holy Experiment • d. Guaranteed free and fair trial by jury, freedom of religion, freedom from unjust imprisonment and free elections

29. III. The Colonial Experience • D. Colonial Governments- each colonial government had a legislature and governor • E. Citizenship in the Colonies- being an English citizen in the colonial period much different than today • 1. Only white men with land voted • 2. Only wealthy men usually got involved in politics • 3. Colonists’ definition of religious freedom differed from ours • Roger Williams & Anne Hutchinson forced to leave Massachusetts Bay Colony) • 4. Colonists’ freedoms were limited • Trial of John Peter Zenger

30. III. The Colonial Experience • F. Economic, Social and Political Life • 1. The Agricultural South • a. The southern colonists inhabited the fertile soil that extended from Virginia’s Chesapeake region to Georgia • b. Along the rivers, plantations and small farms developed in place of cities and towns • c. Planters began to specialize in raising a single cash crop • tobacco-North Carolina, indigo- South Carolina

31. III. The Colonial Experience • d. Planters controlled the South’s economy as well as its political and social institutions • e. Life in the South was not the same for everyone • i. Women • ii. Indentured servants • iii. African slaves

32. III. The Colonial Experience • 2. The Commercial North • a. Farms in the New England and Middle colonies produced several cash crops as opposed to one • b. Rocky soil and colder temperatures limited New Englanders to small farms but areas, such as Pennsylvania, that were more fertile produced a variety of crops and animals • c. A diversified commercial economy developed in the New England and Middle colonies (i.e. grinding wheat, harvesting fish and sawing lumber)

33. III. The Colonial Experience • d. Shipbuilding and producing iron were huge industries in the North due to mercantilism • e. Merchants held most of the power and influential positions in the North • f. Due to the industries, urban life grew and cities faced many problems due to the over crowdedness • g. The North not only had a diversified economy, it also had a diverse population

34. III. The Colonial Experience • G. An Emerging Identity • 1. The colonists were British citizens who lived as Americans, including building their own society and learning to handle their own problems • 2. Salutary Neglect • After years of being left alone by the British, tensions grew once Parliament began to take an active interest in the colonies