1. Our English Heritage

2. Magna Carta First document in England that limited the power of the king *Everybody (even the king) must also obey the law Established in 1215 under the rule of King John Included a list of noble’s rights This was the guiding factor to the US Bill of Rights

3. Parliament Developed First developed as a group of advisors to King Henry III Developed into a legislature in the late 1300s King still ruled England, however parliament controlled the day to day governing

4. Parliament is split in two upper house- House of Lords- grew out of the nobles who once advised the king lower house- House of Commons- consisted of two representatives from each town Governing duties was split amongst the two

5. The Glorious Revolution In 1688, parliament replaces King James II with William and Mary Changed the role of parliament- right to govern no longer comes directly from the monarch Power of parliament was from the citizens not monarch

6. Discussion How would Americans today react if the government was continually taking advantage of their rights?

7. English Bill of Rights Developed in 1689 by parliament Gave parliament the sole power to make laws, raise taxes, control the army, and set up election system for parliament

8. England’s Unwritten Constitution Unlike the United States, England does NOT have a written Constitution Rules were never written down, but shaped by documents such as Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights No one document contained a master plan, such as our US Constitution

9. Common Law Day to day laws that were not written down, but people lived by them Developed through the centuries through courts Courts’ decisions were the basis of law Use of precedent consistent rulings

10. American Common Law US laws concerning property, contracts, and personal injury based on English Common Law

11. English Heritage Idea that a ruler is not above the law People have a voice in government Citizens have basic rights that are protected by law Common law Legislature made up of representatives

12. Discussion How are our English roots gave us a foundation for today’s government?

13. Influences of limited government in the United States Magna Carta A group of barons forced King John to sign the Magna Carta “Great Charter” Due Process 5 th Amendment Private property 5th Amendment Trial by jury 6th Amendment

14. English Bill of Rights Prohibited a standing army in peacetime and required all Parliamentary elections to be free No excessive bail or fines 8 th Amendment No cruel punishment 8 th Amendment Right to bear arms 1st Amendment Right to petition 2nd Amendment

15. Other influences on US founding documents The Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, was a time when man began to use his reason to discover the world, casting off the superstition and fear of the medieval world. The effort to discover the natural laws which governed the universe led to scientific, political and social advances. Enlightenment thinkers examined the rational basis of all beliefs and in the process rejected the authority of church and state. Immanuel Kant expressed the motto of the Enlightenment well -- "Aude Sapere" (Dare to Think!).

16. John Locke The most influential of the Enlightenment philosophers Wrote two treatise on government. His Second Treatise was is most influential in shaping American government He said the people have the right to “overthrow an unjust government” A treatise is a formal and systematic exposition in writing of the principles of a subject, generally longer and more detailed than an essay.

17. Jefferson was influenced greatly by John Locke Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence: “whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it.” Jefferson paraphrases Locke's ideas in his Second Treatise in the Declaration of Independence, changing "life, liberty, and property" to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

18. John-Jacques Rousseau At the foundation of his thought on government and authority is the idea of the " social contract," in which government and authority are a mutual contract between the authorities and the governed; this contract implies that the governed agree to be ruled only so that their rights, property and happiness be protected by their rulers. Rights and liberties are social contracts.

19. Charles de Montesquieu A French social commentator and political thinker who lived during the Enlightenment. He is famous for creating the theory of separation of powers. Voltaire A French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit and for his advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion and free trade.