1. Chapter 2 : Lesson 1 Government in Colonial America

2. What influenced the development of our government institutions?
Essential Question
What influenced the development of our government institutions?

3. Cornell Note: Terms Write on left column: Magna Carta
Virginia House of Burgesses
May Flower Compact
Charter
English Bill of Rights
Colonial Government

4. Magna Carta (1215)
Also known as Great Charter
only dealt with nobility at the start

5. The Magna Carta, 1215
King John, an English King constantly demanded money and men for wars from his feudal barons.
The feudal barons in 1215 forced King John to agree that he had “no right” to demand their property without their consent. Their consent was to be agreed upon in a grand council.
King must now get consent of the people

6. The Signing of the Magna Carta, 1215

7. The Magna Carta, 1215 Two important aspects of the Magna Carta:
there must be a set of laws governing how the King and his subjects will deal with each other
the King is not the highest authority and that he is bound by a higher law that limits his authority (rule of law)

8. Virginia House of Burgesses, 1619
1619 the first elected representative government appears in Virginia.
House of Burgesses imposed taxes and ran the colony
It is modeled after the English Parliament.
English Parliament was England’s lawmaking elected government.

9. Virginia House of Burgesses, 1619

10. Mayflower Compact, 1620
1620, Pilgrims arriving near the New England Coast agree to write a contract that allows for self-government.
The Mayflower Compact promised that every adult male would vote for the Governor and his advisors on a yearly basis.
It supports the idea of majority rule.

11. Signing of the Mayflower Compact

12. Charter
A written instrument from the authorities of a society granting rights and privileges

13. English Bill of Rights (1688)
Set clear limits on what a ruler could and could not do
Set up 5 key ideas:

14. English Bill of Rights Monarchs do not have absolute authority
Monarch must have Parliaments consent to suspend laws, levy taxes, or maintain army
Monarch cannot interfere with parliamentary elections and debates
People have right to fair and speedy trial
No cruel and unusual punishment

15. Colonial Government
Each English colony had its own governor, a legislature, and a court system
Each had:
A written constitution
Legislatures of elected representatives
Separation of powers between governors and legislature

16. Colonial Government King appointed the governor in his place
Governor appointed by King and had final say on laws
Assemblies made laws, passed taxes, paid governor’s salary which made the governor listen to the assemblies

17. The way our government works today can be traced to important documents in history:

18. Review Question:
Chapter 2 : Lesson 1
Read pages and answer Review Questions on page 41. Hand in Google Class Room.