1. ROOTS OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
Vocabulary Needed
Monarch
Legislature
Parliament
Precedent
Constitution
Bicameral
Confederation
Magna Carta
Mercantilism
Common Law
Colony
Charter
Compact
Amend
Ratify
Preamble
Declaration of Independence
Allow student to copy words and as we discuss the chapter they will add the definitions.

2. How did the Founders plan our nation?
Chapter Two: Roots of American Democracy.
Pages 26 – 49 Civics Today

3. Many of our rights can be traced back to the political and legal traditions of England.
When did the King John lose his power?

4. Until 1215 the monarch held absolute power
Until 1215 the monarch held absolute power. The King granted nobles vast amounts of land for their loyalty, military support and tax payments.
Why did the noblemen revolt?

5. King John began to abuse the rights of the noblemen
King John began to abuse the rights of the noblemen. Taxes were rising, arrests were common, and land was taken. The nobles rebelled and forced King John to sign the Magna Carta (Latin for “Great Charter”).
Magna Carta

6. What were the ideas in the Magna Carta?

7. From where did the ideas come?
The Magna Carta was a contract that limited the power of the king. It protected nobles’ rights, gave equal treatment under the law and trial by peers.
NO ONE WAS ABOVE THE LAW! – not even the King or Queen
There was a rebellion – people were tired of the King – Higher taxes, leading them to war – loss of land and life on the King’s orders
From where did the ideas come?

8. How did Parliament form?
Henry III followed King John and met regularly with nobles and clergy. They gave advise to him. The group grew in numbers and power. The common people were eventually represented. This group became a legislative body known as Parliament.
How did Parliament form?

9. Why was this called the Glorious Revolution?
Parliament removed King James II in 1688 and placed William and Mary on the throne. Mary was King James’ daughter.
No violence. Parliament held power and not the King.
Demonstrated Parliament was now stronger than the monarch – no ruler would have more power than the legislature.
Why was this called the Glorious Revolution?

10. From that time on no ruler would have more power than the legislature
From that time on no ruler would have more power than the legislature. The English Bill of Rights in 1689 was passed by Parliament was agreed to by the new monarchs.
What did it state?

11. Bellringer Which system of law is based on precedent and customs?
Which system is laws is America’s personal injury, contract and property law based upon?

12. What rights were preserved?
English Bill of Rights made clear that the Monarch could not:
Suspend Parliament’s Laws
Create Special Courts
Raise an Army without Parliament’s consent
Impose Taxes
What rights were preserved?

13. The Bill of Rights declared:
Free Elections in Parliament
Free Speech in Parliament Meetings
Cruel and Unusual Punishment Banned
Every Citizen Trial By Jury
Every Citizen Fair Trial
The Bill of Rights declared:

14. What are they looking for?
COMMON LAW
At one point England did not have written laws. They had rules and these had the force of law. Courts developed and their decisions became the basis of law. Judges would look for a precedent to decide their rulings.
What are they looking for?

15. Precedents
Customs

16. What 2 areas do we use to settle conflict based on common law?
Prescedents and customs
What 2 areas do we use to settle conflict based on common law?

17. Establishing Colonies in America
In the ’s England was busy establishing colonies in America
Ruled by a parent country somewhere else
First colonist remained loyal to the English political traditions
Expected a voice in their government and basic rights.

18. 1st permanent English Settlement?
1607
Ask for name of the settlement. Then the date. – now state of VA
1st permanent English Settlement?

19. What was the 1st representative assembly in the English colony called?
Virginia House of Burgesses
Patrick Henry addressing the House of Burgesses. 22 members Marked the beginning of self-government in colonial America.
Little to None
How much power?

20. Mayflower Compact What was the plan called? Needed Gov’t.
Who signed the contract?
Why was this done before they left the ship?
41 White Men
41 white men only.
1620 A new group of colonists arrived. Pilgrims…They…?
Drew up a written plan of government.

21. Signing the Compact on Board the Mayflower by Tompkins H. Matteson

22. What type of democracy did the Mayflower Compact establish?
Direct Democracy

23. Green indicates?

24. Bellringer
Why did the American colonists grow used to making their own decisions?
How did this affect them later on?

25. Study the two pictures. In what group would you have belonged? Why?
Regular Classes: 3 groups; Loyalists, Patriots, Undecided. Debate the issues for independence vs. against independents.
Honors and Gifted: Electronic signs and banners: Create possible slogans protesting British actions. Paragraph on meaning, impact and result.
Study the two pictures. In what group would you have belonged? Why?

26. CAUSE AND EFFECT BRITISH ACTIONS COLONIST RESPONSES
Policy of Mercantilism forced Colonist to buy
1765 Stamp Act (newspapers./leg. doc.)
1766 Declaratory Act
1767 Townshend Acts
1773 Tea Act (Unfair trade for E. Br. Ind.Co)
Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts)
Colonial business suffered
“No Taxation Without Representation (boycott Eng. Goods)
Boycott Eng. Goods since Stamp Act was repealed.
Blocked/ Bost. Tea Party
First Continental Cong.
French and Indian War Debt Higher Taxes
Stamp Act to help pay for War Debt.
Declaratory Act gave Parliament the right to tax and make decisions for American Colonies.
Tea Act gave the British East India Company the right to ship tea to colonies without paying most of the taxes. Ship directly to shopkeepers at low prices. East India Company cheaper than all others. Unfair business practices over colonial merchants.
Colonists blocked all East India Company ships (except for one ship). Dressed as Native Americans the colonists dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor.
Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts) restricted the rights such as trial by jury and the right to search as well as live with colonists and homes.
1st Cont. Cong. Sept colonies (not Georgia) met to establish a political body to represent American interests and challenge the British power.

27. Battle of Lexington and Concord changed the way many viewed the loyalty to England. British soldiers shooting Americans.
King George III responded with force. What 2 battles changed the minds of colonists?

28. To write a document that would announce independence!
January 1776
By January of 1776 Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense. Major reason for many switching to the Patriots side.
May 1775 colonist leaders meet again. What was the meeting called? Purpose?
To write a document that would announce independence!

29. Who was the major contributor to this document? What did it state?

30. These are the beliefs concerning the rights of individuals. Rough Draft?

31. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, …
The Declaration of Independence goes on to say… What does it mean?
Pg Civics Today

32. The Articles of Confederation
STRENGTHS:  
To declare war and make peace
To coin and borrow money
To detail with foreign countries and sign treaties
To operate post offices
The First Constitution was called…

33. WEAKNESSES:
The national government could not force the states to obey its laws.
It did not have the power to tax
It did not have the power to enforce laws
Congress lacked strong and steady leadership
There was no national army or navy
There was no system of national courts
Each state could issue its own paper money
Each state could put tariffs on trade between states. (A tariff is a tax on goods coming in from another state or country.)

34. STATES
Under the Articles of Confederation who held the power? National or State government?

35. The End!
2011 S. Marshall
Slidell High School