1. Early America – on the road to self-government… Looking at our Founding Fathers English Heritage through documents

2. Democracy was not created in a heartbeat. In a world where people were ruled by monarchs from above, the idea of self-government is entirely alien

3. The American founders were well versed in the writings of their English heritage – Magna Carta (1215) – Mayflower Compact (1620) – Petition of Right (1628) – Massachusetts Body of Liberties (1641) – English Bill of Rights (1688) – Declaration of Independence (1776)

4. Time for a Treasure Hunt Grab an Ipad Get into Groups of up to 5 Each Group has a Founding Documents Treasure Hunt sheet – Take a look at the Directions

5. Most of the early Americans came from England Brought with them 2 Principles Limited Government RepresentativeGovernment

6. Limited Government – def: Gov’t on which strict limits are placed, usually by a constitution Early English History Absolute Monarchy claimed supreme autocratic power by divine right, and that their subjects had no rights to limit their power Makes me a happy man! BUT…English monarchy began to be limited in their power … By the 19th century, the Divine Right (a monarch is subject to no earthly authority, deriving the right to rule directly from the will of God) was regarded as an obsolete reason why someone should rule NOOOO!

7. Where does the Parliament fit in? First glimpse – In 1066 William of Normandy introduced a feudal system Sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief (a person who held land) and ecclesiastics (member of the clergy or other person in religious orders) before making laws.

8. Documents that limited power 1215Magna Carta (The Great Charter) King John was not a good King. He liked to fight wars  kept raising taxes but then he kept losing wars, and losing territory. Barons FORCED (threat of rebellion) John to sign (limit his power) ** Increased role of the royal council (consent) NPR radio segment radio England’s National Treasure Gradually became Parliament

9. Documents that limited power Mayflower Compact The passengers declared their intention to start the “first colony in the northern parts of Virginia.” - Stated that they had now covenanted and combined themselves into a society for their “better Ordering and Preservation” of the colony

10. Documents that limited power 1628 Petition of Right Throughout reign, King Charles I collected customs duties (TAXES) by the royal prerogative. - This continued even though Parliament had voted in 1625, against long-standing custom and set a precedent that the king could collect this only for one year. ALSO Charles was helping King of France fight civil war (needed money) HOWEVER under the terms of the Magna Carta taxes could not be collected…however he did. **imposed without the agreement of Parliament. (Parliament against this) ALSO tried to raise money without Parliament through a Forced Loan in 1626, and imprisoned without trial a number of those who refused to pay it. 1628  Parliament forced the King to assent to the Petition of Right. (focused on his violations of the law) *The king accepted the Petition of Right, but soon broke his word and resumed the violations. 1629  King dissolved Parliament He did not call another one for 11 years - Made it known his distaste for dealing with Parliament and his belief that the royal prerogative allowed him to rule and to raise money without [parliament] In 1648  Charles was forced to appear before a high court (controlled by his enemies) where he was convicted of treason and sentenced to death. Early in the next year, he was beheaded.

11. Documents that limited power Massachusetts Body of Liberties (1641) Internal Strife within colony - Theocratic Oligarchy (Puritans) or Representative Government *Was one of the first written governing documents in New England civil and criminal laws that governed specific behavior and punishment  Written by a Puritan leader Nathaniel Ward (Minister and Lawyer), intended to assist the General Court. - Many of the limits on governmental power listed were included in the Magna Carta or came out of British common law but also included Mosaic Principles (Bible)

12. Documents that limited power 1689 English Bill of Rights As part of what is called the “Glorious Revolution” (Locke and Two Treatise … Government) *a blood-less coup which led to the overthrow of King James II In order to limit the powers of King William III and Mary of Orange who ascended to the throne in 1689 (Conditions they had to agree to) - to prevent abuse of powers in future monarchs  Parliament issued a declaration, later enacted as the Bill of Rights **Changed the role and powers of the Kings of England from those of an Absolute monarch to a Constitutional monarch. An 'Absolute Monarchy' meant the king had the power to do anything without any constraint by law or parliament A 'Constitutional Monarchy' meant the king acted as a figurehead whose power was limited by parliament British colonists in North American  British Citizens – familiar with

14. Representative Government – People choose a limited number of individuals to make governmental decisions for all citizens England - Parliament – Upper Chamber - House of Lords (hereditary or appointed for life) – Lower Chamber – House of Commons (elected from districts)

15. Iroquois Confederacy – The Great Law Path from the Iroquois to Constitution