1. G OVERNING D OCUMENTS

2. C ONSENT OF THE GOVERNED What does this mean?

3. M AGNA C ARTA (1215) - Signed by the king to protect people from unreasonable acts of the king <<He didn’t like this, it limited his power  - Establishes the idea of limited government - Enforces natural rights like: 1. Protection against taking life, liberty, property 2. New taxes only with permission Only applies to the rich & powerful people (nobility)…

4. M AYFLOWER C OMPACT (1620) - First example of colonial plans for self government…41 pilgrim men signed this document. - Agreed to pick their own leaders & make their own laws - Discuss and vote on various issues and problems - What type of democracy is this? DIRECT DEMOCRACY!

5. E NGLISH B ILL OF R IGHTS (1689) Set clear limits on a ruler Key ideas: (1) Monarch does not have absolute authority (2) Parliament gives permission to suspend laws, levy taxes, maintain an army (3) Monarch cannot interfere with Parliamentary election/debate (4) Right to petition for the people, fair and speedy trial by jury (5) No cruel and unusual punishment or excessive bail/fines Sound familiar???? King James committed political and religious crimes!

6. D ECLARATION OF I NDEPENDENCE Sent to King George III to describe grievances against the king and that the American colonies should be free and independent Used Enlightenment ideas of natural rights (what are they?) Enlightenment: use reason and analysis rather than tradition Challenged authority and religion

7. A RTICLES OF C ONFEDERATION - A weak central government to prevent tyranny (King George) - Essentially, each individual “state” was operating as its own country. - - Little power because colonies were fearful of another king. - Failed! - RIP A of C 1781-1788 

8. Strengths: -Declare war -Make peace -Sign treaties -Borrow $$ -Est. an army and navy -Org. a post office Weaknesses: -No chief executive -No nat’l court system -No power to draft soldiers -No power to control interstate commerce -No power to enforce treaties -No power to collect taxes from states -No nat’l currency -Difficult to pass laws (2/3 rd vote required) -Very difficult to amend the Articles (unanimous vote of states required )

9. Why were the Articles of Confederation so weak? What we didn’t like about the British... Taxation without representation Large central government (monarchy) had all the power States always had to listen to the king All power was in the King’s hands. King could change the rules/laws any time So the Articles of Confederation… Federal government could not tax States didn’t have to follow laws and treaties. States had their own laws and didn’t have to follow any other states’ laws No executive branch or national court system. Any amendment required all 13 states

10. T HE US C ONSTITUTION - Stronger Federal Government - 3 Branches of Government - Separation of Powers: not one person or small group of people will have too much power - Checks and Balances