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

2. 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

3. Influences From England’s Early Government
: 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

4. 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

5. 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?

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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