1. Unit 2 – Topic 8: How did constitutional government develop in Great Britain?
RAP: The Founders were very concerned about the abuse of power, and designed a system of checks and balances to limit the government’s power. Explain why or why not you agree with them and their system.
Lesson Goal: Students will be able to describe the struggles for power between the English monarch and Parliament. Students will be able to explain how these struggles led to a system of separated powers and representative government. Students will be able to describe some of the important constitutional documents in British history that influenced the writing of our constitution.

2. Rights of Englishmen Before independence – British subjects
As subjects:
The right to a trial by jury
Security from unlawful entry into one’s home
No taxation without consent
Colonists were British subjects. They therefore enjoyed the same rights as Englishmen. The rights of Englishmen developed over time.

3. The Constitution of Great Britain
Not a single written document
Common law
Laws passed by Parliament

4. Feudal System Brought to England by William the Conqueror in 1066
Is a system of governing
Based on control of the land

5. Feudal System 3 social groups Royalty – king, queen and their family
Government by king or queen is a monarchy
Nobility – lords, ladies held titles of earl, duke, duchess, and barons.
Worked for the monarchy aiding them to control England
Common people – rest of the people
Knights, soldiers of the king, merchants, and peasants (serfs)
Farmed the land
Not free to leave the area in which they worked

6. How the monarchy ruled. All public land belonged to the monarch
Too much land to rule
Nobility controlled parts of the land and the people
Nobles pledged loyalty to the king and to go to war
Nobles divided the land
Assigned vassals to control the land and people
Vassals owed loyalty and military service to the nobles

7. Feudal System

8. How did the system work?
Agreements and contracts between the monarch and the nobles
Agreements and contracts between the nobles and the vassals
Contracts included
Rights and responsibilities that the parties owed to each other.
This is a government based on a contract.
Those in power pledged to respect the rights of those who pledged loyalty

9. Importance of Feudal System
Development of constitutional government
Monarchs began to share their power with the nobles.

10. RAP:
Without looking back, explain the feudal system.

11. Steps to the Magna Carta
Royalty shared some of its power with nobles.
When King John tried to take back some of the rights given to nobles, they rebelled.
Nobles were very powerful and forced King John to sign an agreement.
The agreement was the Magna Carta
Important because it limited the power of a ruler

12. The Magna Carta Influenced the Founders in 2 ways
Government was based on a contract
If either side breaks the contract, the contract is no longer valid
Both sides are responsible for fulfilling its terms
Both government and the governed must obey the law (rule of law).
Law limits the power of government
Property could not be taken without following agreed upon procedures and rules

13. Parliament
Nobles forced the king to create an advisory council (Parliament)
Parliament is the legislative branch of the English government
House of Lord – represented the nobles
House of Commons – represent the people who owned large amounts of land – not nobles - this was a loophole/issue, because ONLY common people who are ALSO landowners can be included in this government

14. Parliament
Eventually Parliament represented the interests of their regions.
Constant struggle for power between royalty, the nobles, and the commons.
The king
forced the people for money without consent from Parliament
Required people to house soldiers in their homes

15. Petition of Right
The king’s actions made Parliament force the king to agree to the Petition of Right
The Petition of Right
The king could only raise taxes with the consent of Parliament
Soldiers could no longer be housed in homes of the people
Strengthened the idea that English subjects had certain rights.

16. Civil War
Struggle between the monarch and Parliament became so intense – civil wars broke out.
Nobles won in 1649
Parliament ordered the execution of the king
1688 – balance of power shifted to Parliament

17. English Bill of Rights Passed by Parliament in 1689
Laws gave Parliament the right to limit the powers of the monarch
Elections to Parliament were free
The people have the right to petition the king

18. English Bill of Rights The monarchy was no longer allowed to
Collect taxes without consent
Interfere with the right to free speech and debate
Maintain an army in peace time
Prevent Protestants from having arms for their defense
Require excessive bail or administer cruel punishment for those accused or convicted of crimes
Declare laws made by Parliament should not be obeyed.

19. Colonies
This happened at the same time the British were establishing colonies.
The colonists brought the ideas about a good government with them to the new world

20. WIO
Student Choice:
Imagine that you are a member of the nobility living in England. Write a letter to the editor or draw an editorial cartoon illustrating the importance of the rights listed in the Magna Carta.