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
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. Massachusetts Body of Liberties (1641) English Bill of Rights (1688)
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)

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
Representative Government

6. BUT…English monarchy began to be limited in their power…
By the 19th century, the Divine Right was regarded as an obsolete reason why someone should rule
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
NOOOO!
Makes me a happy man!

7. Documents that limited power 1215 Magna Carta (The Great Charter)
England’s National Treasure
Documents that limited power 1215 Magna 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)
NPR radio segment

8. 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.

9. Documents that limited power 1628 Petition of Right
Throughout reign, King Charles I collected customs duties 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 revenue only for one year.
HE ALSO Helping King of France fight civil war (needed money)
HOWEVER under the terms of the Magna Carta taxes could not be
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.
Documents that limited power 1628 Petition of Right
 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.

10. Documents that limited power Massachusetts Body of Liberties (1641)
Was one of the first written governing documents in New England,  was a code of laws written by a Puritan leader (Minister and Lawyer), intended to assist the General Court. - Many of the limits on government power listed were included in the Magna Carta or came out of British common law.

11. Documents that limited power 1689 English Bill of Rights
As part of what is called the “Glorious Revolution
*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

12. 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)