Magna Carta (1215)
•
First document to limit the powers of the government
•
Introduces the idea of limited government and rule of law – which later influenced the
colonist’s views of government
•
Limits the king’s powers because it forces him to govern according to established rules of
law
English Bill of Rights (1689)
•
Marks the end of the struggle between parliament and the king
•
Some of the rights it grants to Englishmen are: right to petition the king, right of free
elections to parliament, right of free speech for parliament, right to a trial by jury
Common Sense by Thomas Paine (1776)
• Published anonymously
• Advocates (promotes) that colonists declare independence from Britain
• Advocates (promotes) movement for sovereignty (people to rule themselves) of the
people
• Establishes a written constitution (proposal for organizing the government)
• Promotes a written constitution with effective system of governmental checks and
balances
Quote:
“No country in the globe is so happily situated, or so internally capable of
raising a fleet as America. Tar, timber, iron, and cordage are her natural
produce. We need go abroad for nothing. Whereas the Dutch, who
make large profits by hiring out their ships of war to the Spaniards and
Portuguese, are obliged to import most of the materials they use. We
ought to view the building a fleet as an article of commerce, it being the
natural manufactory of this country.” ~ Common Sense by Paine
• This quote says that American can sustain (support) itself and doesn’t need to look
anywhere else for resources
• Fleet = ships
• Commerce = trade
Quote:
“Youth is the seed-time of good habits as well in nations as in individuals.
It might be difficult, if not impossible, to form the Continent into one
government half a century hence. The vast variety of interests,
occasioned by an increase of trade and population, would create
confusion. Colony would be against colony.” ~ Common Sense by Paine
• This quote says that establishing a good continental government and system of doing
things is better done at an early age of development because if we wait too long, the
colonies may grow to much to be able to come to an agreement.
Mayflower Compact (1620)
• First written set of government in American Colonies
• “In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the 11th of
November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England…..Anno
Domini 1620”
• Written by pilgrims whose ship was called the Mayflower and who landed by mistake in
Massachusetts.
Other Notes – Lesson 8
•
Rights of Englishmen were established during centuries of British rule
•
Constitutional government is based on a written constitution (plan for organizing the government and its
laws)
•
The feudal system is important to a constitutional government because it introduced the idea of
government based on contracts (example: social contract between King & Noble)
•
The feudal system was broken down into three tiers (royalty: king & queen / nobility: ladies & lords /
common people: peasants & serfs)
•
American colonists had the same rights as Englishmen because they were subjects of the British monarchy
•
Parliament was the first legislative body to limit the powers of the king and was later copied by American
Colonists within the idea of separating the branches of the government
•
Concept of rule of law limits the powers of government because it limits government to govern based on a
pre-established set of rules
Quote:
“No free man shall be taken, or
imprisoned…exiled, or in any way
harmed…save by the lawful judgment of his
peers”
• Guarantees the right to a trial by jury