1. Events and Ideas #2 The Rise of Constitutional Governments
World History
Unit 2

2. Contains these videos:
Crash Course video #28
British Monarchy video
Declaration of Independence video
Revolutionary War video

3. Essential Questions:
Compare and contrast the Constitutional Monarchy (British) and Constitutional Government (U.S.)
What were the motivations of the colonists to revolt against the British?
Describe the structure and purpose of constitutional governments and explain the philosophy and ideas that created constitutional governments

4. What do all these countries in colored in “red” have in common?
They all have Constitutional Monarchies
What do all these countries in colored in “red” have in common?
Constitutional monarchies with representative parliamentary systems are shown in red. Other constitutional monarchies are shown in violet.
Constitutional monarchies with representative parliamentary systems are shown in red. Other constitutional monarchies (shown in violet) have monarchs who continue to exercise political influence, albeit within certain legal restrictions. Constitutional monarchies in beige (currently only one nation, Thailand) are constitutional monarchies in which the constitution has been suspended.
What do all these countries in colored in “red” have in common?

5. Constitutional Monarch
A form of government that acknowledges an elected or hereditary monarch.
NOT an absolute monarchy but a parliamentary form of limited monarchy.
The monarch is the head of state.
Prime Minister is the head of government.
A form of government that acknowledges an elected or hereditary monarch.
i. During the Enlightenment Age, some countries attempt through Revolution to make the transition away from absolute monarchies.
NOT an absolute monarchy but a parliamentary form of limited monarchy.
i. In an absolute monarchy, the Divine Right of Kings reigns supreme.
ii. For example, King Louis XIV of France is a great example of the Divine Right of Kings.
Monarch is head of state.
i. In the United States, our President is the Head of State (the figure head) and the Head of Government (President of the USA).
ii. In Constitutional Monarchies, the King or monarch is the Head of State but the true power of government lies elsewhere.
Prime Minister is head of government.
i. Currently, Great Britain (England), Spain, Japan, and Canada have a parliamentary form of government and have a Prime Minister as the Head of Government.
Constitutional Monarch = power through heredity.
Prime Minister = power through government and elections.
King George III of England

6. Constitutional Monarch
Current example:
Great Britain

7. The British Monarchy Explained
Answer these questions:
How is this Constitutional government different than the United States Constitution?
What is this British persons view of the Monarchy of Great Britain?

8. Declaration of Independence
Adopted on July 4th, 1776.
It was mainly written by Thomas Jefferson
It stated the reasons for separation from England.
“Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” comes from the ideas of John Locke.
An act of the Second Continental Congress, adopted on July 4th, 1776.
i. It declared that the 13 colonies of the British Empire on the North American continent were independent of Great Britain.
Mainly written by Thomas Jefferson, it stated the reasons for separation from England.
i. This document has three parts 1) Introduction, 2) Preamble, and 3) the Indictments against the crown.
“Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” comes from the ideas of John Locke.
-- John Locke wrote “Life, liberty, and property.”
The Declaration of Independence, signed July 4th, 1776

9. Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence illustrates the philosophical feelings of the Enlightenment
It marked the official beginning of the American Revolution
The Boston Tea Party

10. Go to this Declaration of Independence video and answer these questions:
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
What do most people remember about the Declaration?
What issue divided the Continental Congress?
What was the political genius that they saw?

11. The colonists now believed that King George III was no longer the “boss of them!”

12. Crash Course Video Episode #28: Tea, Taxes and the American Revolution
Complete the worksheet that goes with this video

13. American Revolution
The Thirteen Colonies gain independence from Britain.
American War of Independence raged from to 1783.
France provided financial support to America during the Revolutionary War.
The Thirteen Colonies gain independence from Britain.
i. Colonies felt abused members of the British Empire.
ii. They were motivated by Enlightenment thinkers concerning the idea of Natural Rights and the Social Contract.
American War of Independence raged from 1775 to 1783.
i. Declaration of Independence, July 4th, 1776
ii. Cornwallis surrenders the British Army at Yorktown in 1781.
France played a key role in aiding the revolution with money and arms.
i. After the Battle of Saratoga, the French join the fighting.
ii. The Americans, however, were heavily influenced by the ideas of the enlightenment philosophers, being against absolute monarchy and aristocracy, and did not see the French form of government as a model.
iii. The American Revolution included a series of broad intellectual and social shifts that occurred in the early American society, such as the new republican ideals that took hold in the American population. In some states, sharp political debates broke out over the role of democracy in government.
iv. The American shift to republicanism, as well as the gradually expanding democracy, caused an upheaval of the traditional social hierarchy, and created the ethic that formed the core of American political values.

14. Go to this Revolutionary War video and answer these questions
What type people were involved in the revolution?
Why do you think he said it was not a good idea for the British to wear red suits?
What was the motivation for British soldiers to fight?
What was the motivation for the colonists to fight?

15. Separation of Powers
This concept was first introduced in ancient Greece
Then it was expanded on by Baron de Montesquieu
The idea described division of political power among an executive, a legislature, and a judiciary branch.
It was put in the American Constitution by James Madison.

16. Constitutional Government
A national constitution state political principles.
It also sets up government and the powers and duty of government.
Most national constitutions guarantee certain legal rights to the people.
Individual liberties
Protection from government
A national constitution stating political principles.
i. What is the foundation of a country. Well, look at their constitution and you will know what is important to that country.
It also sets up government and the powers and duty of government.
i. How the government is divided up between all the different functions.
ii. Who makes the laws, who enforces the laws, how are laws changed.
Most national constitutions guarantee certain legal rights to the people.
i. Individual liberties
ii. Protection from government
Magna Carta

17. Answer the Essential Questions in a paragraph using academic terms
Answer the Essential Questions in a paragraph using academic terms. (minimum of five complete sentences)
Compare and contrast the Constitutional Monarchy (British) and Constitutional Government (U.S.)
What were the motivations of the colonists to revolt against the British?
Describe the structure and purpose of constitutional governments and explain the philosophy and ideas that created constitutional governments