SECTION 1 OUR POLITICAL BEGINNINGS Chapter 2 Origins of American Government

Our Political Beginnings Objectives: * Identify the three basic concepts of government that influenced government in the English colonies * Explain the significance of the following landmark English documents… Magna Carta, Petition of Right, the English Bill of Rights * Describe the three types of colonies that the English established in North America.

Our Political Beginnings The American system of government did not suddenly spring into being with the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 Nor was it suddenly created by the Framers of the Constitution in 1781

Our Political Beginnings The beginnings of what was to become the United States can be found in the mid-sixteenth century when explorers, traders, and settlers first made their way to North America. The English who came in the largest numbers who soon controlled the 13 colonies.

Our Political Beginnings Basic Concepts of Government > The earliest settlers brought with them knowledge of a political system – established laws, customs, practices, and institutions – that had been developing for centuries > The political system they knew was that of England > Some aspects of that structure had come to England from other times and places > The concept of rule of law that influenced English political ideas had roots in early river civilizations

Our Political Beginnings > The Ancient Romans who occupied England from AD left behind a legacy of law, religion, and custom to the people. > The first English colonists saw the need for an orderly regulation of their relationships with one another. > That would be the need for government > Created local governments based on those they had known in England

Our Political Beginnings > Local offices such as office of sheriffs, coroner, assessor, and etc started in England long ago > The colonists also brought the idea that government is not all-powerful. > Government is restricted in what it may do and each individual has certain rights that government cannot take away > Concept of Limited Government - the basic principle of American government which states that government is restricted in what it may do and each individual has rights that the government cannot take away. > This had developed over the past 400 years

Our Political Beginnings > Representative Government – The idea that government should serve the will of the people had also been developed in England for centuries. > This was a way for people to have a voice in deciding what government should and should not do

Our Political Beginnings Landmark English Documents > The Magna Carta * a group of wealthy people forced King John to sign this document in * Because of John’s military campaigns, heavy taxes, and etc. * This was designed to seek protection against heavy-handed and arbitrary acts of the king * Such features as trial by jury, due process of law, life, liberty, and property

Our Political Beginnings >The Petition of Right * It limited the king’s power in several ways * the king no longer could imprison or punish people that spoke out against him. * King could not impose martial law (rule by the military) in times of peace. * King could not require homeowners to provide shelter for his troops without their consent * This document also challenged the divine right of the king

Our Political Beginnings The Bill of Rights – 1689 * Before William and Mary were able to take the throne of England, they had to sign this document * It prohibited a standing army during peace times, except with the consent of Parliament * All Parliamentary elections should be free *Also gave certain individual rights to the people

Our Political Beginnings The English Colonies >England’s colonies in North America have been described as “13 schools of government” >The 13 colonies were established separately over a span of some 125 years. > The first colony to be founded was Virginia > Each colony was settled under a set of circumstances

Our Political Beginnings >Virginia was organized as a commercial venture >Massachusetts was organized for people seeking greater personal and religious freedom >Georgia was founded largely in part as a haven for debtors, refuge for the victims of England’s harsh laws, and those that were in prison

Our Political Beginnings Types of Colonies 1) Royal Colony * Subject to direct control of the Crown * There were eight royal colonies on the eve of the American Revolution New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia * Virginia did not enjoy quick success and was made a royal colony (was at first Charter Colony)

Our Political Beginnings > A pattern of government gradually emerged for each of the royal colonies. >The king named a governor to serve as the colony’s chief executive >A council served as an advisory body to the royal governor > In time, the governor’s advisory body became the upper house of the colonial legislature > Bicameral legislature was a two-house legislative body

Our Political Beginnings >Any law passed by the legislature had to be approved by the governor and the Crown 2) The Proprietary Colony > There were three of these… Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania >These colonies were organized by a proprietor – a person whom the king had made a grant of land. > By giving that person a charter, the land was settled and governed much as the proprietor saw fit

Our Political Beginnings >The government of these three colonies was much like that of the royal colonies. > The governor was appointed by the proprietor > Pennsylvania had a unicameral legislature (one house) 3) Charter Colony > Connecticut and Rhode Island were the two charter colonies > These were self-governing colonies

Our Political Beginnings > The governors were elected each year by the white male property owners in the colony > Laws made by this governing body was not subject to approval by the governor > Both of these colonies were very liberal for their time. > When they wrote their state constitution, it did not have many changes made to the original constitution

Our Political Beginnings If Great Britain had allowed all the colonies to have the same freedoms that Connecticut and Rhode Island had, there may not have been an American Revolution.