Roots of Democratic Government

1. Roots of Democratic Government Judeo-Christian TraditionThe Greco-Roman TraditionEnglish Parliamentary Traditions

2. Roots of Democratic Government American Democracy was influenced • by the Middle East • by the great civilizations of Greece and Rome • by the system of government developed in Britain

3. Judeo-Christian Tradition • Traditions expressed basic moral and spiritual values • Judaism = faith of ancient Hebrews; the heart of the Jewish religion = Ten Commandments • Christianity - emerged from Judaism 2000 years ago; honors Jesus; believes that all people are created equally in eyes of God • This influenced the Declaration of Independence 1776

4. Greco-Roman Traditions (slide 1) Greek Influences: • Direct Democracy =Popular Sovereigntya system of gov’t where ordinary citizens make decisions by voting • Responsible citizens follow laws • Trial by Jury is a guaranteed right (Jury = a panel of citizens who make judgments at a trial)

5. Greco-Roman Traditions (slide 2) Roman Traditions: • Republic = the citizens choose their representatives to make laws • Belief that everyone is equal before the law • Belief that the accused is innocent until proven guilty

6. English Parliamentary Traditions • Middle Ages = period in Europe from the Fall of Rome to 1400 • England’s form of gov’t = individuals have certain rights • Three main influences on US gov’t: 1. Magna Carta 2. English Parliament 3. English Bill of Rights

7. Magna Carta • 1215 Nobles forced England’s king to sign • Limited king’s powers to tax w/o consulting the people • Protected rights of people to own property and guaranteed right to trial by jury • Rights first granted to nobles and eventually citizens; the king had to obey the laws

8. Parliament • Council to advise king formed under Magna Carta • Greatest power =right to approve new taxes (king needed Parliament’s consent) • Legislation = group of people w/ power to make laws • Two-house legislation formed

9. English Bill of Rights • Bill of Rights = a written list of freedoms for citizens that the gov’t protects • English Bill of Rights (1688) followed & supported much of Magna Carta • Habeas Corpus = a person can’t be held in prison w/o being charged w/ a crime

10. How well were you listening? • Give one example of Roman influence and one example of Greek influence on US gov’t today. • How did Christianity and Judaism influence our country? • What do the terms republic,popular sovereignty, and Habeas Corpus mean? • What does a jury do? What does right to a trial by jury mean? • How did the Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights influence our gov’t?

11. Early Settlers and Pre-Revolutionary War

12. Early Explorers • 20,000-60,000 years ago-Native Americans cross Bering Strait • 1492-Columbus & Spanish Conquistadors • 1524-French Explorers • 1500’s Portuguese • 1600’s English

13. Seeds of Exchange • Horse • Disease • Corn • Potato • Sugar

14. Early Settlers • 1585-Roanoke (unsuccessful colony) • 1607-Jamestown(first successful colony thanks to indentured servants-tobacco = $$$ for English investors) • 1620-Pilgrims(came for religious freedom)Mayflower Compact= “Just & equal laws” • Late 1600’s-Puritans Salem Witch Trials Puritan Work Ethic

15. Colonial Regions • New England Colonies (northern) had land difficult to farm (subsistence farming existed); center of shipbuilding and trade • Middle Colonies: “Bread Basket” - farming (cash crops) and shipping • Southern Colonies – plantation economy (very large farms) depended on slavery; cotton, tobacco, rice, indigo • England passed laws that controlled colonial trade

16. An Emerging American Identity • 1730’2-1740’s – Great Awakening (religious revival) Preacher Jonathon Edwards “commit to God” • Early1700’s: Salutary Neglect(colonial self governing & England’s focus elsewhere) • Freedom of the Press (criticism of government) • Period of Enlightenment used scientific reason, observation, and experiments to open minds

17. Enlightenment expands to Politics • Applied reason to politics • John Locke (English philosopher) proposed natural rights (belong to everyone from birth): life, liberty & property; believed rights came from God not gov’t; • gov’t should protect these rights, and if a monarch violates these rights, people could overthrow monarch! • Baron de Montesquieu (French philosopher) – Separation of Powers: division of power of gov’t into separate branches; legislative, executive and judicial *By 1770’s most Americans believed they were born with natural rights; Ben Franklin- colonial Enlightenment thinker!!!

18. Things Change in America • 1756-1763-French and Indian War • (aka Seven Year’s War) • 1763-Treaty of Paris (England defeats French and gains land) • England needs money to pay war debt leading to taxing Americans leading to serious protests & dissention

19. Building Tension Between England and the Colonies • 1763-Proclamation of 1763 • 1765-Quartering Act & Stamp Act • 1766-Stamp Act Failed • 1767-Townshend Acts • 1770-Boston Massacre & Parliament repeals Townshend Acts • 1772-Committee of Correspondence formed by Samuel Adams • 1773-Tea Act & Boston Tea Party • 1774-Intolerable Acts • First Continental Congress formed

20. War Erupts!!! • Minutemen = soldiers ready to form quickly • April 1775-Lexington & Concord • Second Continental Congress soon names George Washington as commander of Continental Army

21. THE END