1. Forerunners of the Constitution

2. Magna Carta (1215) “The Great Charter” at Runnymede –Military and heavy taxes Dispute over Kings powers –Arbitrary acts? Limited Government –Power to parliament (some) –Protect power of barons English Liberties Protections? “Rule of Law” Revisions…

3. Petition of Right Charles I –Taxes Imprisonment Taxes Housing

4. English Common Law 1689 – English Bill of Rights No standing army in peacetime without parliaments consent Parliaments elections must be free Suspend laws? No new taxes without parliament Petition does not equal prosecution and persecution Law created and refined by judges Prevent the king from putting law in his mouth Fair Trial –No excessive bail –No cruel and unusual punishment

5. English Bill of Rights continued… Open Debate in Parliament Freedom of Speech? Protestants can bear arms Habeas Corpus (Body of Evidence) No Roman Catholic Monarchs

6. Mayflower Compact (1620) Battle for Liberty: America or England 1623 – Jury 1636 – Plymouth Code

7. Colonial Charters Companies Legal Rights and Terms Purpose, Trade, Land, Authority Landlords/Companies (source of power) Representative Government Separation of powers We’ll look at different types and the colonies next

8. John Locke “Two Treatises of Government” (1689) –Idea of social contract –Divine right? –Born free State of nature –Rights to Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness –Government to protect these –Rule by majority not extemporaneous ideas –People should overthrow corrupt government

9. Calvin Calvinism Settlers in Mid-Atlantic and New England English (Puritans), French, Dutch, Etc. 5 points –Total depravity (original sin) Self over neighbor Self interest Not inclined to love God with whole heart Need government to protect people from one another Protestant Work Ethic

10. Adam Smith 1776 – “Wealth of Nations” Free market economics Individual wealth = overall wealth Government regulations vs Economy Merit and Meritocracy

11. What is next?!?! The colonies, The Declaration, and the Constitution (oh yeah, the Articles of Confederation too!!)

12. Which document do you believe had the greatest influence on the Constitution of the United States? –Provide Examples Explain the basic protections outlined in the English Bill of Rights –Why would those who live in the colonies expect these to apply to them overseas?