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Development of Democracy in the United States

Explore the establishment of democracy in the United States, from the influence of ancient civilizations to the ideas of enlightened philosophers and the American colonies. Learn about key documents and principles that shaped the government and the rights of the people.

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Development of Democracy in the United States

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  1. Government What type of government does the United States have?

  2. What are the characteristics of a democracy? • Government by the people • People have a say • People choose others to make their laws (an indirect democracy, or a republic or a representative democracy) • Government is supposed to protect the people’s rights

  3. How did the U.S. develop the ideas of democracy? We borrowed ideas from earlier civilizations

  4. From Athens • A direct democracy – all citizens participate

  5. From Rome • A republic – a representative democracy in which people choose others to make their laws • Codified laws (12 Tables)– written, uniform throughout • Legal Principles – equality under the law; legal precedence (legal record keeping)

  6. From England • Magna Carta (1215) – limited the power of the King; included trial by jury of peers and no taxation without representation • Petition of Right (1628) – granted the Writ of Habeas Corpus – the right of an imprisoned person to know the charges placed against him and to be granted a trial • English Bill of Rights (1689) – established that the monarch is not absolute and provided a representative government; restricted powers of government (no standing army, no quartering of troops, trial by jury & taxation only by rep’s)

  7. From the Enlightened Philosophers • John Locke – natural rights to life, liberty & property; social contract - an agreement between the people and the state; if government fails to protect people’s natural rights, the people have the “right to revolution”; government is by the consent of the governed.

  8. (Enlightened Philosophers) • Montesquieu – division of power among branches of government so no one becomes too powerful (checks and balances) • Rousseau – government by the consent of the governed – power to rule comes from the people (“We the people…) • Voltaire - wrote against religious intolerance and persecution (basis of freedom of religion and freedom of expression

  9. From the American Colonies • Mayflower Compact (1620)– agreement to obey laws made by the will of the majority – “consent of the governed” – the power to govern comes from the people • Town Meetings (New England)– free men could participate in elections and decision-making for the good of the community

  10. (American Colonies) • Virginia House of Burgesses (1619) – elected officials made laws to ensure the survival of the colony • Freedom of the Press – trial of John Peter Zenger (1735) – charged with libel for newspaper articles critical of NY Governor. Decision established basic of freedom of the press as long as what was printed was true.

  11. (American Colonies) • The Great Awakening(1740’s)– religious revival that challenged traditional teachings and practices of the established churches; promoted religious toleration

  12. Life in the American Colonies before 1763 • Self-government • Each colony had a colonial assembly • Profit from trade (in spite of mercantilism) • Mercantilism – Colony exists to benefit mother country but the Americans continued to trade with other countries (smuggling) • Salutary Neglect • England allowed the colonies to operate without direct interference (a very lenient parent!)

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