1. English Origins of American Government
Objective: Students will be able to identify the English origins of government

2. English Origins of American Government
The Magna Carta (1215)
King John is forced to sign by barons
Included guarantees of such fundamental rights as trial by jury and due process of law
Protection against absolute power
Objective: Students will be able to identify the English origins of government

3. English Origins of American Government
The Petition of Right (1628)
King Charles I signed, by force of the Parliament
Limited king’s power
May not impose martial law
Can not force quartering
Punish only by laws of the land
Questioned Divine Right
Objective: Students will be able to identify the English origins of government

4. English Origins of American Government
Parliament was a council of nobility created to advise the monarch.
History of hostility between parliament and monarch.
Parliament = House of Lords + House of Commons
House of Lords- nobility
House of Commons - wealthy and people of standing in community- knights, merchants, craftsmen.
Objective: Students will be able to identify the English origins of government

5. English Origins of American Government
The English Bill of Rights (1689)
Signed by William and Mary of Orange during the Glorious Revolution
Prohibited a standing army in peace time
Required free parliamentary elections
Objective: Students will be able to identify the English origins of government

6. John Locke,
Objective: Students will be able to identify the English origins of government

7. John Locke’s Natural Rights Philosophy
Took Thomas Hobbes’ Social Contract Theory a step further:
People have Natural Rights from birth, by nature of being human.
Life, Liberty and Property are key rights.
To preserve their rights, people contract to give power to government.
When government fails to preserve these rights people have a duty to break the contract-consent of the governed.
Objective: Students will be able to identify the English origins of government

8. John Locke’s Natural Rights Philosophy
By contract, people surrender to the state the power needed to maintain the social order and the government agrees to protect its citizens.
People need government to maintain social order because they haven’t found a way to live in groups without conflict.
Objective: Students will be able to identify the English origins of government

9. Other Influences on Formation of U.S. Government
Baron de Montesquieu-French philosopher 1748:
Best form of government-one elected by the people.
Power should be balanced among three groups-the separation of powers principle.
Foundation for development of 3 branches of government.
There is no liberty of law making and law enforcing powers are united in the same person.
Objective: Students will be able to identify the English origins of government

10. Montesquieu (Cont.)
He believed all people were not equal. Approved of slavery. Believed women were weaker than men and must obey their husband. Yet, he believed women could govern, i.e., be a Queen.
Objective: Students will be able to identify the English origins of government

11. Judeo-Christian Tradition
We see moral and ethical ideal from Judeo-Christian traditions in the formation of American government
What does this mean?
Objective: Students will be able to identify the English origins of government