1. Roots of Democratic Government
Judeo-Christian Tradition The Greco-Roman Tradition English 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 Sovereignty a 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)
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
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