Mr. McCray Foundations Lesson 4 Our English Heritage Mr. McCray Foundations Lesson 4

Influences From England’s Early Government Many of the rights that American citizens enjoy today can be traced back to England England was ruled by a coalition of a monarch and the nobles who supported him Following a rebellion in 1215 the nobles forced King John to sign the Magna Carta; guaranteed rights of all landholders By the late 1300’s the kings noble advisors formed a legislative body called the Parliament King John signing the Magna Carta https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ7vUkbtlQA

Influences From England’s Early Government 1688-1689: Parliament replaces the King, draws up the English Bill of Rights and takes prominence in England Bill of Rights protected Parliament's laws, limited the monarchs power, called for elections, and provided for a trial by jury In its earliest days England had no written law, judges based their decisions on precedent What is precedent? Why does it matter? English Parliament

Bringing the English Heritage to America Although early colonists had left England they brought with them many of its political and legal traditions Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in North America; formed the House of Burgesses to deal with problems like hunger, disease, and Indians Marked the beginning of self-government in colonial America Pilgrims who were sailing for Plymouth drew up a written plan of govt. called the Mayflower Compact, set up a direct democracy Mayflower Compact https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbjWqsC0Lpk

Early Colonial Governments By 1733, 13 English colonies stretched from Massachusetts to Georgia, each new colony had its own government Each colony had a governor, who was elected or chosen by the King, and each had a legislature As years passed, colonial government took on more power and responsibility while the King and Parliament dealt with issues in England The colonists grew used to making their own decisions, significance?

Colonial Resistance and Rebellion By the mid-1700’s the British govt. began to tighten its grip on the colonies Britain adopted the policy of mercantilism; country should sell more goods than it buys, effect on America? Britain also began taxing the colonists in order to finance a war against France; colonists demanded “no taxation without representation” Stamp Act required colonists to use tax stamps on paper products, colonists boycotted and Parliament pulled back George Washington fighting the French

Colonial Resistance and Rebellion 1773: Parliament passes the Tea Act which gave a British tea company advantages over colonial merchants In protest a group of colonists in Boston dumped 342 chests of British tea into the harbor Parliament responded by passing the Coercive Acts/Intolerable Acts; laws restricted colonists rights, including trial by jury, and allowed soldiers to search and live in homes Colonial govts. banded together and in Sept. 1774, 12 of the colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia Boston Tea Party https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eytc9ZaNWyc

Movement Towards Independence First Continental Congress: lasted 7 weeks, sent a document to King George III demanding that their rights be restored King George responded through force, in April 1775 two battles between British soldiers and colonial soldiers took place in Mass. After these battles many colonists began talking about independence May 1775: Second Continental Congress formed to discuss independence, little agreement British begin the attack